Accessing Search Results Using Multiple Different Devices

ABSTRACT

A method includes transmitting a search query from a searching device to a search system and receiving search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query. Each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform. The method also includes displaying the search results on the searching device, receiving a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device, selecting one of a plurality of performing devices using the searching device, and transmitting an indication of the user selection from the searching device to the selected performing device. The selected performing device is configured to perform the function indicated by the selected search result in response to receiving the indication.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This U.S. patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application 61/948,488, filed Mar. 5, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to the field of search, and more particularly to generating, displaying, and accessing search results on computing devices.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the use of computers, smartphones, and other Internet-connected computing devices has grown significantly. Correspondingly, the number of software applications available for such computing devices has also grown. Today, many diverse software applications can be accessed on a number of different computing devices, including, but not limited to, smartphones, personal computers, automobiles, and televisions. These software applications can include business driven applications, games, educational applications, news applications, shopping applications, messaging applications, media streaming applications, and social networking applications, as some examples. Because of the large number of software applications available today and the wide range of functionality they provide, computing device users often require the ability to search for and access specific software application functionality.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure provides a method that includes transmitting a search query from a searching device to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query. The method further includes receiving search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query. Each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform. The method also includes displaying the search results on the searching device, receiving a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device, selecting, using the searching device, one of a plurality of performing devices, and transmitting an indication of the user selection from the searching device to the one of the plurality of performing devices. The one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices includes receiving a user selection of a performing device of the plurality of performing devices at the searching device, and selecting the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices. Optionally, the method further includes displaying an indication of the performing device of the plurality of performing devices on the searching device, and the receiving the user selection of the performing device includes receiving a user selection of the indication at the searching device. In some examples, the displaying the indication of the performing device of the plurality of performing devices on the searching device includes displaying the indication along with the one of the search results displayed on the searching device.

In some examples, the selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices includes receiving location data that indicates the location of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data. The selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data optionally includes identifying a performing device of the plurality of performing devices that is located most proximate to the searching device using the location data, and selecting the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices. In other examples, the selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices includes receiving availability data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is available to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the availability data. Additionally or alternatively, the selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices may further include receiving compatibility data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is compatible with an access mechanism that specifies the function indicated by the one of the search results, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the compatibility data. Optionally, the selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices includes receiving connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the connectivity data. In some examples, the selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices includes receiving historical connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices has been previously connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the historical connectivity data.

In some examples, the one of the search results includes an access mechanism, and to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to set an application into a state of the application using the access mechanism.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a system includes a searching device, a plurality of performing devices, and a search system. The search system is configured to receive a search query from the searching device and transmit search results that are responsive to the search query to the searching device. The searching device is configured to display the search results to a user, receive a user selection of one of the search results from the user, select one of the plurality of performing devices, and transmit an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices. In this example, the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform a function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.

This aspect may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive a user selection of a performing device of the plurality of performing devices at the searching device, and select the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices. Optionally, to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive location data that indicates the location of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data.

In some examples, to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive availability data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is available to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the availability data. Additionally or alternatively, to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive compatibility data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is compatible with an access mechanism that specifies the function indicated by the one of the search results, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the compatibility data. Optionally, to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the connectivity data. In some examples, to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive historical connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices has been previously connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the historical connectivity data. In some implementations, the one of the search results includes an access mechanism, and to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to set an application into a state of the application using the access mechanism.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that cause one or more computing devices to transmit, using a searching device, a search query to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query. The instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to receive search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query. Each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform. The instructions also cause the one or more computing devices to display the search results on the searching device, receive a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device, select, using the searching device, one of a plurality of performing devices, and transmit, using the searching device, an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices. The one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example environment that includes a searching device, multiple performing devices, and a search system.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an example method for performing a search using a searching device and selecting a performing device to access results of the search.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an example search module of a search system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an example function record of a search system.

FIGS. 5A-5D are example graphical user interfaces (GUs) that may be generated on a searching device.

FIGS. 6A-7D are schematic views of example GUIs that may be generated on a searching device and different performing devices.

FIGS. 8A-8C are schematic views of example GUs that may be generated on a searching device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an example GUI that includes different user selectable links.

FIGS. 10A-11B are schematic views of example arrangements of a searching device and multiple performing devices in communication with a search system.

FIGS. 12A-12B are schematic views of example arrangements of a searching device, multiple performing devices, and an intermediate device in communication with a search system.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example method for performing a search for function records based on a received search query.

FIGS. 14-15 are flow diagrams of example methods each describing operation of a searching device.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of an example method describing operation of a performing device.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of an example searching device and an example performing device in communication with a search system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of search, and, more particularly, to techniques for generating, displaying, and accessing search results on different computing devices. Specifically, the techniques of this disclosure are directed to performing a search for software applications using a single user device (e.g., a “searching device”) and performing functions indicated by search results generated as part of the search using any of multiple different user devices (e.g., “a plurality of performing devices”). According to the techniques disclosed herein, the searching device may transmit a search query to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query. For example, the searching device may receive the search query from a user of the searching device. The searching device may subsequently receive search results from the search system in response to the transmitted search query. In this example, each search result may indicate a function for a computing device (e.g., a performing device) to perform. For instance, each search result may include an access mechanism that, upon being received by a computing device, causes the computing device to set a software application included on the computing device into a particular application state. The searching device may display the received search results to the user. The searching device may further receive a user selection of one of the displayed search results by the user. The searching device may also select one of the plurality of performing devices. For example, the searching device may select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on one or more of a user input, location data, availability data, compatibility data, connectivity data, and historical connectivity data associated with the selected performing device. The searching device may subsequently transmit an indication of the user selection to the selected performing device. In this example, the selected performing device may be configured to perform the function indicated by the one of the displayed search results in response to receiving the indication. For example, the selected performing device may be configured to set a software application included on the selected performing device into a particular application state using an access mechanism included in the one of the displayed search results, as described above.

A software application as described herein may refer to computer software that causes a computing device to perform a task. In some examples, a software application may be referred to as an “application,” an “app,” or a “program.” Example applications include, but are not limited to, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, messaging applications, media streaming applications, social networking applications, and games.

Applications can be executed on a variety of different computing devices. For example, applications can be executed on mobile computing devices such as smart phones, tablets, and wearable computing devices (e.g., headsets and/or watches, such as so-called “smart watches”). Applications can also be executed on other types of computing devices having other form factors, such as laptop computers, desktop computers, computing devices that are installed in vehicles (e.g., so-called “vehicle navigation systems”), or other consumer electronic devices. In some examples, applications may be installed on a computing device prior to a user purchasing the computing device. In other examples, the user may download and install applications on the computing device after purchasing the computing device.

The functionality of an application may be accessed on the computing device on which the application is installed. Additionally, or alternatively, the functionality of an application may be accessed via a remote computing device. In some examples, all of an application's functionality may be included on the computing device on which the application is installed. These applications may function without communication with other computing devices (e.g., via the Internet). In other examples, an application installed on a computing device may access information from other remote computing devices during operation. For example, a weather application installed on a computing device may access the latest weather information via the Internet and display the accessed weather information to the user through the installed weather application. In still other examples, an application (e.g., a web-based application) may be partially executed by the user's computing device and partially executed by a remote computing device. For example, a web-based application may be an application that is executed, at least in part, by a web server and accessed by a web browser of the user's computing device. Example web-based applications may include, but are not limited to, web-based email, online auctions, and online retail sites.

As explained above, the present disclosure is directed to techniques for generating search results on a single user computing device and performing operations, or functions, indicated by the search results on any of multiple different user computing devices. In some examples described herein, a user may select a search result on a first computing device (e.g., a smart watch) that then causes a second computing device (e.g., a smart phone, or tablet) to perform one or more operations, or functions, indicated by the selected search result. In some examples, the user and/or the first computing device may select the second computing device from among multiple different computing devices. In some scenarios, the user may be in proximity to both the first and second computing devices. For example, the first computing device may be a wearable computing device (e.g., a smart watch on the user's wrist). In this example, the second computing device may be a mobile computing device (e.g., a smart phone in the user's pocket, or a tablet in the user's palm), or another type of computing device located in proximity to the user (e.g., a vehicle navigation system installed in the user's vehicle, or a television or personal computer present in the user's home). In other examples, the first computing device may be a mobile computing device, such as a smart phone, or a tablet, and the second computing device may be another computing device, such as a smart watch, a vehicle navigation system, a television, or a personal computer.

According to the techniques disclosed herein, a user enters a search query into a first computing device. The first computing device, which receives the search query, maybe be referred to herein as a “searching device.” The searching device transmits the search query to a search system. In one example, the searching device may transmit the search query to the search system via another user computing device (e.g., a “performing device,” or another intermediate computing device, which are described below) to which the searching device is tethered. The searching device being tethered to another user computing device, as described herein, may refer to the searching device being communicatively coupled to the other user computing device using a short-range wired and/or wireless communication interface or connection, such as, e.g., USB, Bluetooth®, Ethernet (e.g., LAN), and/or Wi-Fi® (e.g., wireless LAN (WLAN)). In this example, the other user computing device may then transmit the search query received from the searching device to the search system via the Internet. In another example, the searching device may not be tethered to another user computing device, but instead the searching device may be configured to connect to the search system directly via the Internet (e.g., via a cellular network, Wi-Fi®, and/or another wireless technology) and transmit the search query to the search system. The search system generates search results in response to receiving the search query and transmits the generated search results to the searching device. The searching device can then display the search results to the user. A search result that is displayed to the user may be referred to herein as a “displayed search result,” or a “displayed result.”

The user can select a displayed result on the searching device. The user and/or the searching device can further select one of a plurality of computing devices as a second computing device to perform operations, or functions, associated with the selected result. In response to selection of the displayed result, the searching device indicates to the second computing device that the displayed result has been selected. The displayed result that is selected by the user on the searching device may be referred to herein as a “selected search result,” or a “selected result.” The second computing device, which receives the indication from the searching device that the user has selected the displayed result, may be referred to herein as a “performing device.” The performing device performs one or more operations, or functions, according to the selected result in response to receiving the indication from the searching device. For example, the performing device can launch a native application included on the performing device and set the native application into a state indicated by the selected result. The user that entered the search query into the searching device can then view and interact with the launched native application on the performing device. In another example, instead of launching a native application, the performing device can show an expanded view of the selected result (e.g., a view that includes more image/text content and/or detail and graphical user interface (GUI) input/output options compared to the selected result). Displaying the expanded view of the selected result may be beneficial in scenarios where the user would like to view the selected result on a larger screen, assuming that the searching device (e.g., a smart watch) has a relatively limited display screen size and that the performing device (e.g., a smart phone, or a tablet) has a relatively larger display screen size.

The techniques of the present disclosure may be implemented for various different network topology arrangements of the searching device, multiple performing devices, and the search system. In some examples (e.g., FIG. 11A), the searching device may be tethered to a performing device such that the searching device communicates with the search system via the performing device. For example, the searching device may communicate with the performing device via a short-range wired connection (e.g., USB) or a short-range wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth®), and the performing device may communicate with the search system via the Internet (e.g., via a cellular network, or a home router). In other examples (e.g., FIG. 10A), the searching device and the multiple performing devices may independently communicate with the search system. For example, the searching device and the multiple performing devices may have their own separate wireless internet connections that each enable communication with the search system via the Internet. The separate wireless connections may be wireless connections to the same wireless router at home, for example. The separate wireless connections may also be different types of wireless connections, depending on the connectivity options available on the searching device and the multiple performing devices. For example, the searching device may be configured to communicate with the Internet via a cellular radio, or network, connection and one or more of the multiple performing devices may be configured to communicate with the Internet via a Wi-Fi® connection.

While in some examples, a searching device of the present disclosure can indicate a selected result to one of multiple performing devices, in other examples, the searching device may indicate a selected result to each of multiple different performing devices. In these examples, each of the multiple performing devices can perform a function indicated by the searching device (i.e., by the corresponding selected result), such as opening, or launching, native applications and/or a web browser to a state indicated by the searching device (i.e., by the selected result).

The search results generated by the search system include one or more result objects. A single result object may refer to data associated with a single search result (e.g., a single displayed result, or a single selected result). The search system transmits the result objects to the searching device. The searching device then generates one or more displayed results using the result objects. For example, the searching device may generate one displayed result for each result object received from the search system. In some implementations, the searching device may display only a single displayed result at a time (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 5B-5D). For example, if the searching device has a relatively small screen size (e.g., as in the case of a wrist watch computing device, such as a smart watch), then it may be beneficial to fill the entire display of the searching device with a single displayed result. In this example, a user may use a gesture (e.g., a swipe) on a touchscreen of the searching device, or interact with a physical button of the searching device, in order to show another single displayed result, such as a next displayed result in an order of the displayed results. While in some examples, the searching device may be configured to show only a single displayed result, in other examples, the searching device maybe configured to display multiple different displayed results at a time (e.g., as shown in FIG. 9). For example, the searching device may display a list of multiple displayed results, e.g., according to the order of the displayed results. The user may select one of the displayed results from the list. Additionally, the user may interact with the list to scroll through the list using a gesture (e.g., a swipe) on a touchscreen of the searching device, or interact with a physical button of the searching device.

A result object may include a variety of different data described herein. A result object may include one or more access mechanisms for accessing functionality of an application. For example, a result object may include on or more application access mechanisms (AAMs). Additionally, or alternatively, a result object may include a web access mechanism (WAM). In some examples, a result object may include an application download address. AAMs, WAMs, and application download addresses are described in greater detail below. A result object may also include additional data used by the searching device to generate a displayed result. For example, a result object can include text and/or images that may be displayed in the displayed result. The text and/or images displayed to a user may indicate the operations, or function, that will be performed in response to selection of the displayed result. For example, if the displayed result is for a song in a music playing application, the text and/or images may identify the music playing application that will be launched by a performing device and the song that will be played by the music playing application when the user selects the displayed result. Example displayed results are illustrated in FIGS. 5A-9.

A result object may also include data (e.g., instructions) that defines how to render a displayed result. The searching device can render a displayed result based on such data included in a result object corresponding to the displayed result. The result object can include data that defines the graphical aspects (e.g., formatting and arrangement) of the displayed result, such as the layout of text, images, and animations in the displayed result. In some examples, the data that defines how to render the displayed result may be device-specific data that indicates different formatting and arrangement depending on the display capabilities of the searching device. For example, if the searching device has a relatively smaller display (e.g., a smart watch display), then the formatting and arrangement data may indicate how to render the displayed result on the smaller display (e.g., as one displayed result per screen of the smaller display). If the searching device has a relatively larger display, the formatting and arrangement data may indicate how to render the displayed result on the larger display (e.g., as an entry in a list of multiple displayed results). In other examples, the searching device may receive a result object that does not include formatting and arrangement data. In these examples, the searching device (e.g., a native application, a web browser, and/or an operating system (OS) of the searching device) may determine how to format a displayed result corresponding to the received result object.

A result object can include data that defines additional user interface elements, such as user inputs and outputs. Example user inputs may include, but are not limited to, graphical buttons, text boxes, and menus (e.g., drop down menus). Example user outputs may include GUI elements configured to display text and/or graphics to the user. A result object can also include data that defines how to retrieve information from the Internet (e.g., an application server, a web server, and/or the search system). For example, portions of a displayed result generated for a result object received in response to a search query may be populated in real-time after the search query is transmitted (i.e., after the result object is received and the displayed result is generated). In this example, the result object may include data that instructs the searching device where to obtain the real-time data (e.g., via a web address). The real-time data may include a variety of different types of data, including, but not limited to, weather data, ticket availability, stock market data, restaurant table availability, and current taxi locations. A result object can also include instructions for performing calculations, such as calculations based on a user input. For example, a result object may include data used to render a calculator (e.g., scientific and/or graphing), or a similar mathematical interface, within a corresponding displayed result. Example data included in a result object may be generated by the search system according to a function record described with respect to FIG. 4.

A result object can further include data (e.g., instructions) that defines how the searching device indicates selection of the displayed result to a performing device. In examples where the searching device is directly connected (e.g., wirelessly via Bluetooth®) to the performing device, the searching device can indicate a selection of a displayed result to the performing device via the direct connection, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11B and 12B. In examples where the searching device is not directly connected (e.g., via a wireless connection, or a wired connection) to the performing device (e.g., FIG. 10A), the searching device can indicate a selection of a displayed result to the performing device by transmitting an indication of the selection to the performing device via the Internet, or a more local network, such as a home or business network (e.g., LAN or WLAN).

The indication of the selected result sent from the searching device to the performing device can include a variety of different types of data. In some examples, the indication may include one or more access mechanisms (e.g., AAM(s), WAM(s), and/or application download address(es)). For example, the searching device may transmit one or more AAMs of the selected result to the performing device so that the performing device can access a state of a native application installed on the performing device. In this example, the searching device may transmit an application download address also included in the selected result to the performing device so that the performing device can download and install the native application. In another example, the searching device may transmit a WAM of the selected result to the performing device so that the performing device can access a web address (e.g., a URL) using a web browser installed on the performing device. In examples where the searching device receives the search results via the performing device (e.g., via the tethered connection of FIG. 11A), the searching device may not need to transmit an access mechanism, but instead may indicate to the performing device which search result (e.g., via a rank number) has been selected by the user. In these examples, since the performing device relays the search results to the searching device, the performing device may already have one or more access mechanisms included in the search results stored in the performing device. This may allow the searching device to simply indicate which search result has been selected by the user without explicitly transmitting an access mechanism for the selected result. In still another example, the searching device may transmit a function identifier (ID) to the performing device. In this example, the performing device may use the function ID to access a function record used by the search system to generate the selected result. The performing device may then select one or more access mechanism associated with the search result from the identified function record.

The indication transmitted by the searching device to the performing device may indicate one or more operations for the performing device to perform. As described above, the indication may either include an access mechanism (e.g., an AAM, a WAM, and/or an application download address), or specify a location from which the access mechanism can be retrieved. For example, an AAM may be a string that includes a reference to a native application and indicates one or more operations for the performing device (e.g., the native application) to perform. A WAM may include a resource identifier (e.g., a URL) that directs a web browser of the performing device to a web resource. An application download address may include data used by the performing device to download a native application referenced in an AAM (e.g., from a digital distribution platform). AAMs, WAMs, and application download addresses are described in greater detail hereinafter.

Transmission of the indication of the selected result from the searching device to the performing device may involve a variety of different network paths. In examples where the searching device is directly connected to the performing device via a wired connection (e.g., USB) or a wireless connection (e.g., a short-range wireless connection such as Bluetooth®)), the searching device may transmit the indication to the performing device via the direct connection (e.g., via the wired connection or short-range wireless connection). In examples where the searching device is not directly connected to the performing device, the searching device may transmit the indication to the performing device via a network. For example, the searching device may transmit the indication to the performing device via the Internet. As another example, the searching device may transmit the indication to the performing device through a more local network (e.g., a home network, such as a LAN or WLAN). In still other examples, the searching device may transmit the indication to the search system and the search system may then transmit the indication to the performing device.

In examples where the searching device indicates a function ID to the performing device, the searching device may transmit the function ID directly to the performing device, which may then retrieve one or more access mechanisms included in the corresponding function record from the search system. In another example, the searching device may transmit the function ID to the performing device via the Internet or a more short-range network (e.g., a business or home network), and the performing device can send the function ID to the search system to retrieve the access mechanisms from the search system. In another example, the searching device may transmit the function ID to the search system, which may then transmit the access mechanisms to the performing device.

The searching device generates displayed results based on data included in result objects received by the searching device. For example, with respect to FIGS. 5B-5D, the searching device may generate a single displayed result based on data included in a single result object received by the searching device. In some examples, the searching device may generate multiple displayed results on the display of the searching device at one time. For example, with respect to FIG. 9, multiple different displayed results are viewable by the user on the display of the searching device at one time.

In some examples, the searching device may generate only a single displayed result at a time. For example, the single displayed result may occupy the entire viewable area of the display of the searching device. Put another way, in some examples, the searching device may be configured to display only one displayed result at a time. The searching device may be configured to display only a single displayed result in scenarios where the searching device has limited display area. For example, if the searching device is a wearable computing device (e.g., a wrist watch computing device, such as a smart watch), then the display of the searching device may be limited in size (e.g., have a screen diagonal size of 2 inches or less in some cases). In these examples, generating a single displayed result may allow the user to fully view the displayed result and easily assess whether the displayed result is desirable for the user to select.

The way in which a user selects a displayed result may vary depending on the format of the displayed result. In some examples, a user may select a displayed result by touching (e.g., tapping) a portion of the displayed result. For example, the user may select the displayed result by touching the portion of the display of the searching device including the displayed result. In examples where the searching device displays only a single search result, the user may select the single displayed result by touching anywhere on the display. In still other examples, the displayed result may include regions that are indicated as places where the user may tap to select the displayed result. For example, the displayed result may include a button graphic (e.g., the button including the string “Navigate (Car)” of FIG. 5B) that indicates where the user can tap to select the displayed result. In some examples, the displayed result may include text and/or images that indicate the action that will be taken when the user interacts with the displayed result. For example, the displayed result may indicate a native application that will be launched on a performing device, a web location that will be accessed using a web browser of the performing device, or an expanded view that will be shown on the performing device.

As described above, the searching device may transmit an indication of a user's selection of a displayed result (i.e., an indication of a selected result) to one of a plurality of different a performing devices. In some examples, the searching device may automatically select the performing device. For example, if the searching device is tethered to the performing device, the searching device may automatically transmit the indication to the performing device in response to the user's selection of the displayed result. In other examples, the searching device may prompt the user to select the performing device. For example, after the user selects the displayed result, the searching device may display indications (e.g., names or descriptions) of one or more different possible performing devices from which the user may select the performing device. The user may then select the performing device from the one or more different possible performing devices. In response to the user's selection of the performing device, the searching device may transmit the indication to the selected performing device.

In some scenarios, there may be multiple possible performing devices that the user may wish to use to perform a function indicated by the selected result. In some examples, the searching device may detect the multiple possible performing devices. For example, the searching device may detect a performing device based on a wired connection (e.g., USB) or a wireless connection (e.g., a Bluetooth® connection) with the performing device. In some examples, the searching device may maintain a list of possible performing devices that the user may use (e.g., based on a previous connection to the searching device). For example, the list may include a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone or a tablet), a laptop, or a desktop computing device. The searching device may display one or more of the possible performing devices from the list to the user. In some examples, the searching device may maintain a history of performing devices to which the searching device has transmitted indications of selected results in the past.

In some examples, a performing device may be determined by the searching device and/or the search system based on a relative geo-location of the searching device and the performing device. For example, the searching device may determine which computing devices are near (e.g., in the same location, or within a short distance from) the searching device (e.g., based on geo-location, such as geographic coordinates obtained from a GPS module) and then transmit an indication of a selected result to the performing device(s) that are near the searching device. In some examples, the search system may facilitate the above-described geo-location determination made by the searching device. For example, the search system may determine the geo-location of the searching device based on geo-location data included in the query wrapper received from the searching device. The search system may also maintain communication with one or more possible performing devices to determine the geo-location of the possible performing device(s). For example, the possible performing device(s) may include software that communicates their positions to the search system. Using the geo-location of the searching device and the possible performing device(s), the search system may determine which of the possible performing device(s) are near the searching device and transmit an indication of this determination to the searching device. Alternatively, the search system may transmit the geo-location of the possible performing device(s) to the searching device so that the searching device may make this determination.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example environment that includes a search system 100, user devices 102, one or more data sources 104, and a network 106. In the example environment of FIG. 1, the search system 100 includes a data store 108 and a search module 110. Also in this example, the user devices 102 include a searching device 112 and multiple performing devices 114. The data source(s) 104 are described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 3. According to the techniques disclosed herein, a user device 102 (e.g., the searching device 112) receives a search query from a user of the user device 102 (e.g., via a user interface of the user device 102) and transmits the search query to the search system 100. In some implementations, the user device 102 includes the search query in a query wrapper. The search system 100 receives the search query from the user device 102 and generates one or more search results (e.g., one or more result objects) in response to receiving the search query. The search system 100 transmits the search results (e.g., the result objects) to the user device 102 that provided the search query. The data store 108 and the search module 110 included in the search system 100 are used to generate the result objects, as described herein. Operation of an example search system 100 including the data store 108 and the search module 110 is now described.

In some implementations, the searching device 112 may transmit additional data along with the search query. In these implementations, the searching device 112 may include the additional data and the search query in a query wrapper. The query wrapper may include the search query as well as data associated with the search query. Examples of the additional data can include, but are not limited to, geo-location data (e.g., data indicating the location of the searching device 112), platform data (e.g., a version of an OS of the searching device 112, a device type of the searching device 112, such as a smart watch, a smart phone, or a tablet, and a version of a web browser of the searching device 112), an identity of a user of the searching device 112 (e.g., a username), partner specific data, and other data. The searching device 112 transmits the query wrapper to the search system 100. The search system 100 can use the search query and/or the additional data included in the query wrapper to generate the search results.

In some examples described herein, the searching device 112 can transmit the query wrapper to one of the performing devices 114. This may be the case if the searching device 112 connects to the Internet, thereby connecting to the search system 100, via the performing device 114. In examples where the performing device 114 receives the query wrapper from the searching device 112, the performing device 114 may modify the query wrapper generated by the searching device 112 and transmit the modified query wrapper to the search system 100. For example, the performing device 114 may add, remove, or otherwise modify data included in the query wrapper received from the searching device 112. In some examples, the performing device 114 may add data to the query wrapper indicating information related to the performing device 114. For example, the performing device 114 may add data to the query wrapper such as geo-location data (e.g., indicating the location of the performing device 114), platform data (e.g., indicating a version of an OS of the performing device 114, a device type of the performing device 114, and a version of a web browser of the performing device 114), and an identity of a user of the performing device 114 (e.g., a username). In these examples, the query wrapper received by the search system 100 from the performing device 114 may include data related to both the searching device 112 and the performing device 114. Accordingly, the search system 100 may determine specific information for each of the computing devices, such as an OS of each device, a geo-location of each device, and a device type of each device. For example, the search system 100 may determine whether the searching device 112 and the performing device 114 include a wearable computing device (e.g., a smart watch, a head-mounted display, such as so-called “smart glasses,” or so-called “smart contact lenses”), a smart phone, a tablet computing device, a laptop computing device, or a desktop computing device. As described herein, in some examples, the search system 100 may format the search results (e.g., the result objects) transmitted by the search system 100 to the searching device 112 based on the device type, or any other properties, of the searching device 112 and/or the performing device 114 indicated by the data included in the query wrapper. As one example, the search system 100 may use the device type of the searching device 112 indicated by the query wrapper to generate formatting data to be included in the search results. The formatting data may define how the search results will be displayed on the searching device 112, as described herein. As another example, the search system 100 may use the device type of the performing device 114 indicated by the query wrapper to include one or more access mechanisms (e.g., an AAM, a WAM, and/or an application download address) that are compatible with the performing device 114 in the search results, as also described herein.

The search system 100 includes the data store 108 that the search system 100 uses to generate the search results. The data store 108 includes one or more different function records (e.g., the function record 400 of FIG. 4). Each function record may include data related to a function of a native application and/or a state of the native application resulting from performance of the function. As described herein, a function record may include a function ID, application state information (ASI), one or more access mechanisms, and other result object data described above. The access mechanisms can include, but are not limited to, one or more AAMs, one or more WAMs, and/or one or more application download addresses. The function records described herein may include additional data in some examples. In other examples, the function records may include less data than that illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, a function record may include an AAM, but not include a WAM. In another example, a function record may include a WAM, but not include an AAM. In some examples, a function record may include multiple different AAMs.

An AAM may be a string that includes a reference to a native application and indicates one or more operations for a user device 102 (e.g., one of the performing devices 114) to perform. In response to selection of the AAM by a user on the searching device 112, the performing device 114 may launch the native application referenced in the AAM and perform the one or more operations indicated by the AAM. For example, the performing device 114 may perform the one or more operations to set the native application into a particular state.

Native applications can perform a variety of different functions for a user. For example, a restaurant reservation application can make reservations for restaurants. As another example, an internet media player application can stream media (e.g., a song, or a movie) from the Internet. In some examples, a single native application can perform more than one function. For example, a restaurant reservation application may allow a user to retrieve information about a restaurant, read user reviews for the restaurant, and view a menu of the restaurant. As another example, an internet media player application may allow a user to perform searches for digital media, purchase digital media, stream digital media, and generate digital media playlists.

An AAM includes data which a user device 102 (e.g., one of the performing devices 114) can use to access functionality provided by a native application. For example, an AAM can include data that causes a performing device 114 to launch a native application installed on the performing device 114 and perform a function associated with the native application. Performance of a function according to an AAM may set a native application into a specified state. Accordingly, the process of launching a native application and performing a function according to an AAM may be referred to herein as launching the native application and setting the native application into a state that is specified by the AAM. In one example, an AAM for a restaurant reservation application can include data that causes a performing device 114 to launch the restaurant reservation application and make a reservation at a restaurant or indicate available reservation times. In this example, the restaurant reservation application may be set in a state that displays reservation information to a user, such as a reservation time, a description of the restaurant, and user reviews. In another example, an AAM for an internet media player application can include data that causes a performing device 114 to launch the interment media player application and stream media from the Internet. In this example, the internet media player application may be set in a state that displays information regarding the media (e.g., music) being streamed, such as a song name, an artist name, or an album name.

AAMs may have various different formats and content. The format and content of an AAM may depend on the native application with which the AAM is associated and the operations that are to be performed by the native application in response to selection of the AAM. For example, an AAM for an internet music player application may differ from an AAM for a shopping application. The AAM for the internet music player application may include references to musical artists, songs, and albums, for example. The AAM for the internet music player application may also reference operations, such as randomizing a list of songs and playing a song or album. The AAM for the shopping application may include references to different products that are for sale. The AAM for the shopping application may also include references to one or more operations, such as adding products to a shopping cart and proceeding to a checkout.

A user may select a displayed result on the searching device 112 to cause one of the performing devices 114 to launch the native application identified in the displayed result and perform one or more operations according to the AAM associated with the displayed result. Put another way, when a user selects a displayed result on the searching device 112, the performing device 114 launches a native application installed on the performing device 114 and sets the native application into a state defined by the AAM associated with the displayed result. In general, a state of a native application may refer to one or more operations and/or the resulting outcome of the native application performing the operations in response to a user selection of a displayed result. A state of a native application may also be referred to herein as an “application state.”

An application state of a native application specified by an AAM may depend on the functionality provided by the native application. For example, if a native application is configured to retrieve and display information from an external resource (e.g., a web server) via the Internet, the native application can be set into a state in which the native application retrieves information from the external source via the Internet and displays the information to the user. In another example, if a native application is configured to play media from an external resource via the Internet (e.g., music and/or video), the native application can be set into a state in which the native application is playing a song or a movie from the external resource via the Internet. In another example, if a native application is configured to make restaurant reservations, the native application can be set into a state in which the native application displays available restaurant reservations to the user.

An AAM included in a function record includes data that causes a user device 102 (e.g., one of the performing devices 114) to launch a native application and perform a function associated with the native application. For example, an AAM included in a function record may be a string that includes a reference to a native application and indicates one or more operations for a performing device 114 (e.g., the native application) to perform. An AAM may include an application resource identifier (ARI) and/or one or more operations for a performing device 114 to perform. An ARI may be a string having an application specific scheme in some examples. The ARI may include a reference to a native application and indicate one or more operations for a performing device 114 (e.g., the native application installed on the performing device 114) to perform. For example, the ARI may include a reference to the native application, a domain name, and a path to be used by the native application to retrieve and display information to the user. An example ARI is described with reference to the function record 400 of FIG. 4.

In some examples, an AAM may include operations for a performing device 114 to perform in addition to one or more operations indicated by an ARI of the AAM. For example, a native application installed on a performing device 114 and/or an OS of the performing device 114 may perform these additional operations included in the AAM. In some examples, the operations may be included in a script. Examples of the operations may include, but are not limited to, launching a native application, creating and sending a search request to an application server, setting a current geographic location in a native application, making a restaurant reservation, sending a text message, and adding an appointment to a calendar.

In some examples, an AAM may not include an ARI. Instead, the AAM can include one or more operations that reference a native application and indicate one or more operations for a performing device 114 to perform. The one or more operations may include instructions for the native application and/or an OS of the performing device 114. In response to selection of the AAM, the performing device 114 may perform the operations included in the AAM.

A function ID included in a function record may be a string that uniquely identifies the function record among other function records included in the data store 108. In some examples, the function ID may describe a function and/or an application state in human-readable form. For example, the function ID may be a human-readable string that describes a function performed according to an AAM and/or an application state resulting from performance of the function according to the AAM. In a more specific example, a function ID of a function record that describes a song within an internet music player application may include a name of the internet music player application along with a name of the song that will be played when the internet music player application is set into an application state defined by an AAM included in the function record. An example function ID is described with reference to the function record 400 of FIG. 4.

A function record includes ASI. The ASI includes data that describes an application state into which a native application is set according to an AAM included in the function record. In some examples, the ASI may include data that describes a function performed according to the AAM included in the function record. The ASI can include text, numbers, and symbols that describe the application state or function. The types of data included in the ASI may depend on the type of information associated with the application state and the functionality specified by the AAM.

In some examples, the ASI includes data that is presented to the user when the native application is in the application state defined by the AAM. For example, a function record associated with a shopping application can include ASI that describes products (e.g., names and prices) that are shown when the shopping application is set into an application state defined by an AAM of the function record. As another example, a function record associated with a music player application can include ASI that describes a song (e.g., name and artist) that is played when the music player application is set into an application state defined by an AAM of the function record.

The ASI included in a function record may be generated in a variety of different ways. In one example, data to be included in the ASI may be retrieved via partnerships with database owners and developers of native applications. For example, the data may be automatically retrieved from online databases that include, but are not limited to, data related to movies, television programs, music, and restaurants. In some examples, some data included in the ASI may be manually generated by a human operator. The data included in the ASI may be updated over time so that the search system 100 provides up-to-date search results.

The search system 100 generates one or more search results including one or more result objects using the function records included in the data store 108. Initially, the search system 100 analyzes a search query received from the searching device 112. The search system 100 then identifies a set of function records included in the data store 108 based on the received search query. The identified set of function records may be referred to herein as a “consideration set.” For example, the search system 100 may identify the consideration set based on one or more matches (e.g., text matches) between one or more terms of the search query and one or more terms of the ASI included in the function records of the consideration set.

The search system 100 processes (e.g., scores) the consideration set. For example, the search system 100 may determine how well the function records of the consideration set match the received search query. In a specific example, the search system 100 may determine how well terms of the search query match terms of ASI of the identified function records of the consideration set using Lucene® information retrieval software developed by the Apache Software Foundation. The search system 100 may then select one or more function records that best match the received search query (e.g., the highest-scoring function records) from the consideration set to use in generating the result objects. The search system 100 then generates the result objects based on the selected function records. For example, the search system 100 may select access mechanisms (e.g., AAMs, WAMs, and application download addresses) from the selected function records to include in the result objects. The search system 100 then transmits the result objects to the searching device 112 that generated the search query. The searching device 112 receives the search results including the result objects, displays the search results to a user, detects a user selection of one of the displayed results, selects one of the performing devices 114, and transmits an indication of the user selection to the selected performing device 114. The selected performing device 114 performs a function associated with the selected result in response to receiving the indication, as described herein.

As described above, the function records of the present disclosure are not required to have the format shown in FIG. 4. For example, the function records may include additional information in addition to that included in the function record of FIG. 4. In some examples, the function records may include less data than that included in the function record of FIG. 4. For example, a function record may include a single AAM and no WAM. In other examples, a function record may include multiple AAMs and no WAM. In still other examples, a function record may include a WAM but not an AAM.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example method 200 for performing a search using a searching device 112 and selecting a separate performing device 114 to access results of the search. In block 202, the searching device 112 receives a search query from a user. The search query may include text, numbers, and/or symbols (e.g., punctuation) entered into the searching device 112 by the user. For example, the user may have entered the search query into a search field (e.g., a search box) of a search application running on the searching device 112. The user may have entered the search query using a touchscreen keypad, a mechanical keypad, and/or via speech recognition. As described herein, in some examples, the search application may be a native application dedicated to search, or a more general application, such as a web browser application.

The searching device 112 can be any computing device that is capable of providing search queries to the search system 100. The searching device 112 can be, but is not limited to, a wearable computing device (e.g., a smart watch), a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer. The searching device 112 may also be another computing device having another form factor, such as a computing device included in a vehicle, a gaming device, a television, or other appliance (e.g., a networked home automation device, or a home appliance).

The searching device 112 may use a variety of different operating systems. In an example where the searching device 112 is a mobile device, the searching device 112 may run an OS including, but not limited to, ANDROID® developed by Google Inc., IOS® developed by Apple Inc., WINDOWS PHONE® developed by Microsoft Corporation, or TIZEN® developed by the Linux Foundation. In an example where the searching device 112 is a laptop or desktop computing device, the searching device 112 may run an OS including, but not limited to, MICROSOFT WINDOWS® developed by Microsoft Corporation, MAC OS® developed by Apple Inc., or LINUX® (LINUX® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries). The searching device 112 may also access the search system 100 while running operating systems other than those operating systems described above, whether presently available or developed in the future.

The searching device 112 can communicate with the search system 100 via a computer network (e.g., the network 106), such as the Internet. In some examples, the searching device 112 may communicate with the search system 100 using a native application installed on the searching device 112 (e.g., a search application). In general, the searching device 112 may communicate with the search system 100 using any application that can transmit search queries to the search system 100. In some examples, the searching device 112 may run an application that is dedicated to interfacing with the search system 100, such as an application dedicated to searches (e.g., a search application). In other examples, the searching device 112 may communicate with the search system 100 using a more general application, such as a web browser application. The application run by the searching device 112 to communicate with the search system 100 may display a search field (e.g., the search field 506 of FIG. 5A) within a GUI into which the user may enter search queries. The user may enter a search query using a touchscreen or physical keyboard, a speech-to-text program, or another form of user input.

In general, a search query may be a request for information retrieval (e.g., search results) from the search system 100. For example, a search query may be directed to retrieving a list of one or more displayed results that indicate native application functionality or application states in examples where the search system 100 is configured to generate a list of AAMs as search results. A search query directed to retrieving a list of search results related to native applications may indicate a user's desire to access functionality of one or more native applications described by the search query.

In block 204, the searching device 112 transmits the search query to the search system 100. The search system 100 generates search results that are responsive to (i.e., based on) the search query and transmits the search results to the searching device 112. In block 206, the searching device 112 receives the search results (e.g., result objects) from the search system 100. The searching device 112 generates displayed results based on the received search results (i.e., the result objects). In other words, the searching device 112 renders the result objects of the search results into displayed results. The searching device 112 outputs the displayed results to the user via the search application running on the searching device 112 (e.g., as a search engine results page, or “SERP,” within a GUI of the search application). The user may interact with the searching device 112 (e.g., swipe a touchscreen, or use a physical button) in order to browse through the displayed results.

In block 208, the searching device 112 detects, or receives, the user's selection of one of the displayed results (i.e., a user selection of one of the search results). The user may select a displayed result by interacting in some way with the displayed result. The searching device 112 may detect the user's selection by detecting the user interaction. In some examples, the user may tap the displayed result to select the displayed result. In this example, the searching device 112 may detect the tapping of the displayed result. In some examples, the entire displayed result may be tapped by the user to select the displayed result. In other examples, a displayed result may include a region (e.g., a graphical button) in which the user should tap in order to select the displayed result. The user may select a displayed result in any suitable manner. For instance, the user may use voice controls to select a displayed result.

In block 210, the searching device 112 selects one of a plurality of performing devices 114. For example, the searching device 112 may select the one of the plurality of performing devices 114 based on one or more of a user input, location data, availability data, compatibility data, connectivity data, and historical connectivity data associated with the selected performing device 114, as described herein. In some examples, the searching device 112 may detect, or receive, the user's selection of one of the plurality of performing devices 114 (e.g., after displaying an indication of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices 114 to the user on the searching device 112). The searching device 112 may then select the performing device 114 selected by the user.

In other examples, the searching device 112 may determine or receive from another computing device location data that indicates a location of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices 114 (e.g., geographic coordinate data obtained from a GPS module of each such performing device 114). The searching device 112 may then identify one of the plurality of performing devices 114 that is located most proximate to the searching device 112 using the location data and select the performing device 114. In still other examples, the searching device 112 may determine or receive from another computing device availability data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices 114 is available to perform a function indicated by the selected result. For example, the availability data may indicate whether the searching device 112, or another computing device, has recently transmitted an indication of a user's selection of a displayed result to each such performing device 114, thereby rendering the performing device 114 unavailable to accept and perform a function according to another indication. The searching device 112 may then select one of the plurality of performing devices 114 that is available to accept another indication. In still other examples, the searching device 112 may determine or receive from another computing device compatibility data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices 114 is compatible with an access mechanism (e.g., an AAM or a WAM) that specifies the function indicated by the selected result. For example, a performing device 114 may be compatible with the access mechanism if the performing device 114 includes an OS, a native application, and/or a web browser application that can accept and process the access mechanism as described herein. The searching device 112 may then select one of the plurality of performing devices 114 that is compatible with the access mechanism. In other examples, the searching device 112 may determine or receive from another computing device connectivity data and/or historical connectivity data that indicate whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices 114 is connected, or has been previously connected, respectively, to the searching device 112 via a communication interface. The searching device 112 may then select one of the plurality of performing devices 114 that is connected, or has been previously connected, to the searching device 112 via a communication interface. In these examples, current and/or previous connectivity of a performing device 114 to the searching device 112 may indicate one or more of user preference to select the performing device 114 to perform a function indicated by a selected result, proximity of the performing device 114 to the searching device 112, availability of the performing device 114 to perform a function indicated by a selected result, and/or compatibility of the performing device 114 with access mechanisms that specify functions indicated by selected results on the searching device 112.

In block 212, the searching device 112 transmits an indication of the user selection to the selected performing device 114, as described above. In some examples, the indication may include one or more instructions or commands for the performing device 114. In these examples, the selected performing device 114 may perform a function specified by the selected result in response to receiving the indication, as described below. For example, the performing device 114 may perform the function using the one or more instructions or commands included in the indication. In one specific example, to transmit the indication to the selected performing device 114, the searching device 112 may broadcast an “intent” (e.g., in the case of the ANDROID® OS) to the performing device 114 that causes the performing device 114 to perform the function. In another specific example, the searching device 112 may transmit data to the selected performing device 114 that causes the performing device 114 to broadcast the intent, thereby causing the performing device 114 to perform the function. Accordingly, as described herein, the searching device 112 may include at least one of an OS, one or more native applications, and a web browser application that are configured to communicate with the search system 100, receive a search query from a user, provide a query wrapper including the search query to the search system 100, receive search results from the search system 100, generate displayed results, receive a user input indicating a selected result, select the performing device 114, and transmit an indication of the selected result to the selected performing device 114.

In block 214, the selected performing device 114 performs a function indicated by the selected result. For example, the selected performing device 114 may perform a function according to an AAM or a WAM associated with the selected result. As described above, in some examples, the selected performing device 114 may perform the function using one or more instructions or commands included in the indication of the user selection received by the performing device 114 from the searching device 112. The selected performing device 114 can be any computing device that is capable of receiving an indication of a user selection of a search result from the searching device 112 and performing a function according to the selected result. The selected performing device 114 can be, but is not limited to, a wearable computing device (e.g., a smart watch), a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. The selected performing device 114 may also be another computing device having another form factor, such as computing device included in a vehicle, a gaming device, a television, or other appliance (e.g., a networked home automation device, or a home appliance). The selected performing device 114 may use a variety of different operating systems, as described herein with respect to the searching device 112.

The selected performing device 114 can communicate with the search system 100 via a computer network, such as the Internet. For instance, the selected performing device 114 may communicate with the search system 100 in examples where the searching device 112 communicates with the search system 100 via the selected performing device 114 (e.g., by being tethered to the selected performing device 114). In some examples, the selected performing device 114 may communicate with the search system 100 using a native application installed on the selected performing device 114. In other examples, the selected performing device 114 may communicate with the search system 100 using a more general application, such as a web browser application. Accordingly, as described herein, the selected performing device 114 may include at least one of an OS, one or more native applications, and a web browser application that are configured to communicate with the searching device 112 and the search system 100 and perform the functions indicated by the selected result.

FIGS. 3-4 show examples of the search module 110 and the data store 108 of FIG. 1 and an example function record 400 that may be included in the search system 100 of the present disclosure. The search system 100 (e.g., the search module 110) of FIG. 3 may be configured to communicate with searching devices 112 and performing devices 114 via a network (e.g., the network 106). In some examples, the searching devices 112 and the performing devices 114 may communicate with the search system 100 via a partner computing system (an intermediate computing device; not illustrated). The partner computing system may be a computing system of a third party that may leverage the search functionality of the search system 100. The partner computing system may belong to a company or organization other than that which operates the search system 100. Example third parties which may leverage the functionality of the search system 100 may include, but are not limited to, internet search providers and wireless communications service providers. The searching devices 112 and the performing devices 114 may send search queries 300 to the search system 100 and receive search results 308 via the partner computing system. The partner computing system may provide a user interface to the searching devices 112 and the performing devices 114 in some examples and/or modify the search experience provided on the searching devices 112 and the performing devices 114.

As shown in FIG. 3, the search system 100 is configured to receive a search query 300 from a searching device 112 and perform a search for function records included in the data store 108 based on the received search query 300. As described herein, the search system 100 may receive the search query 300 generated by the searching device 112 via a performing device 114 in some examples (e.g., as described with reference to FIG. 11A).

As also shown in FIG. 3, the search system 100 generates search results 308 including one or more result objects based on the received search query 300. For example, the search system 100 may generate the result objects based on data included in function records identified during the search. For instance, the search system 100 may generate a single result object based on data included in a single identified function record. The data store 108 may include one or more function records some or all of which may be identified during the search of the data store 108. Information that may be included in a function record is described with respect to FIG. 4. The data store 108 may include one or more databases, indices (e.g., inverted indices), tables, files, or other data structures which may be used to implement the techniques of the present disclosure. For example, the data included in the function records may be included in one or more databases, indices (e.g., inverted indices), tables, files, or other data structures. The search module 110 receives the search query 300 and generates the search results 308 (e.g., the result objects) based on data included in the data store 108 and the received search query 300.

The search system 100 performs a search for function records included in the data store 108 in response to the received search query 300 and/or additional data included in a query wrapper that includes the search query 300. The search system 100 generates the search results 308 (e.g., the result objects) based on the function records identified during the search. In some examples, the search system 100 generates result scores for the result objects, which may be used to rank the result objects and the search results 308 (e.g., the displayed results). The search system 100 may transmit the result scores to the searching device 112 with the result objects so that the searching device 112 may rank the displayed results using the result scores.

The search system 100 transmits the result objects to the searching device 112. The searching device 112 generates displayed results based on data included in the result objects. For example, the searching device 112 may generate a single displayed result for each received result object. In some examples, the searching device 112 may display only a single displayed result. For example, if the searching device 112 has a limited amount of display space, the searching device 112 may generate a displayed result such that it fills the display of the searching device 112. In other examples, the searching device 112 may generate a list of displayed results on the display such that the user can view more than one displayed result at a time.

The searching device 112 may receive the search results 308 from the search system 100 that are responsive to the search query 300 transmitted to the search system 100. The searching device 112 may be running a search application including a GUI that displays the search results 308 received from the search system 100. For example, the search application used to transmit the search query 300 to the search system 100 may also display the received search results 308 to the user.

The GUI of the search application running on the searching device 112 may display the search results 308 to the user in a variety of different ways, depending on what information is transmitted to the searching device 112. In some examples, the GUI may display the search results 308 to the user as a list of displayed results that are ranked based on result scores. The displayed results may be arranged under the search field into which the user entered the search query 300. The searching device 112 may arrange the displayed results in order by result scores associated with the displayed results. In some examples, the searching device 112 may group the displayed results together if they are related to the same native application.

The search system 100 may communicate with one or more different data sources (not illustrated), such as the data source(s) 104 of FIG. 1. With reference to the environment of FIG. 1, the data source(s) 104 may be sources of data which the search system 100 may use to generate and update the data store 108. For example, the search system 100 may use the data to update one or more databases, indices, tables, files, or other data structures included in the data store 108. The search system 100 may generate new function records and update existing function records based on data retrieved from the data source(s) 104. Although not illustrated, the search system 100 may include modules that generate new function records and update existing function records based on the data retrieved from the data source(s) 104. In some examples, data included in the data store 108 may be manually generated by a human operator.

The data source(s) 104 may include a variety of different data providers. The data source(s) 104 may include data from application developers, such as application developers' websites and data feeds provided by developers. The data source(s) 104 may include operators of digital distribution platforms configured to distribute applications to searching devices 112 and performing devices 114. The data source(s) 104 may also include other websites, such as websites that include web logs (i.e., blogs), application review websites, or other websites including data related to applications. Additionally, the data source(s) 104 may include social networking sites, such as FACEBOOK® by Facebook Inc. (e.g., Facebook posts) and TWITTER® by Twitter Inc. (e.g., text from tweets). The data source(s) 104 may also include online databases that include data related to movies, television programs, music, and restaurants. The data source(s) 104 may also include additional types of data sources in addition to the data sources described above. Different data sources may have their own content and update rate.

The search system 100 retrieves data from one or more of the data source(s) 104. The data retrieved from the data source(s) 104 can include any type of data related to application functionality and/or application states. The search system 100 generates function records based on the data retrieved from the data source(s) 104. In some examples, some data included in the function records (e.g., ASI) may be manually generated by a human operator. The data included in the function records may be updated over time so that the search system 100 provides up-to-date search results 308.

As described above, the searching device 112, the performing devices 114, the intermediate computing devices (e.g., “intermediate devices”), the search system 100, and the data source(s) 104 may be in communication with one another via a network (e.g., the network 106). The network may include various types of networks, such as a wide area network (WAN) and/or the Internet. Although the network may include a long range network (e.g., the Internet or WAN), in some implementations, the network may include a shorter range network, such as a local area network (a LAN, or a WLAN). In one embodiment, the network uses standard communications technologies and/or protocols. Thus, the network can include links using technologies such as Ethernet, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi®) (e.g., 802.11), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), digital subscriber line (DSL), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), InfiniBand, PCI Express Advanced Switching, etc. Similarly, the networking protocols used on the network can include multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), the transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), the hypertext transport protocol (HTTP), the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), the file transfer protocol (FTP), etc. The data exchanged over the network can be represented using technologies and/or formats including the hypertext markup language (HTML), the extensible markup language (XML), etc. In addition, all or some of the links can be encrypted using conventional encryption technologies such as secure sockets layer (SSL), transport layer security (TLS), virtual private networks (VPNs), Internet Protocol security (IPsec), etc. In other examples, the network can use custom and/or dedicated data communications technologies instead of, or in addition to, the ones described above.

The search module 110 includes a query analysis module 302, a consideration set generation module 304 (hereinafter, “set generation module 304”), and a consideration set processing module 306 (hereinafter, “set processing module 306”). The query analysis module 302, the set generation module 304, and the set processing module 306 may be embodied in computer-executable instructions stored in one or more memory components of the search system 100 and executed by one or more processing units of the search system 100. The query analysis module 302 receives a query wrapper including the search query 300. The query analysis module 302 analyzes the received search query 300. The set generation module 304 identifies a set of function records included in the data store 108 based on the received search query 300. The identified set of function records may be referred to herein as a “consideration set.” The set processing module 306 processes (e.g., scores) the consideration set to generate a set of the search results 308 that include result objects generated based on selected function records of the consideration set.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the example function record 400 includes a function ID 402, ASI 404, one or more access mechanisms 406, and result object data 408. The access mechanism(s) 406 may include one or more native AAMs (hereinafter, “AAMs”), one or more WAMs, and/or one or more application download addresses. The set processing module 306 may generate a result object based on the result object data 408, the access mechanism(s) 406, and, in some examples, the function ID 402. The function record 400 may include data related to a function of a native application and/or a state of the native application resulting from performance of the function. The data store 108 may include one or more function records each having a structure that is similar to that of the function record 400.

In some implementations, a function record may include multiple different AAMs. For example, the different AAMs may be associated with different editions of a native application. A native application edition (hereinafter, “application edition”) refers to a particular implementation or variation of a native application. For example, an application edition may refer to a version of a native application, such as a version 1.0 of the native application, or a version 2.0 of the native application. In another example, an application edition may refer to an implementation of a native application for a specific platform, such as a specific OS.

The different AAMs included in the function record may cause the corresponding application editions to launch and perform similar functions. Accordingly, the different AAMs included in the function record may cause the corresponding application editions to be set into similar application states. In one example, if the different AAMs reference different editions of an information retrieval application, the different AAMs may cause the corresponding application editions to retrieve similar information. In another example, if the different AAMs reference different editions of an internet music player application, the different AAMs may cause the corresponding application editions to play the same song.

In a specific example, a function record for a native application that retrieves restaurant information may include multiple different AAMs for multiple different application editions. Assuming that the function record is associated with a specific Mexican restaurant, the AAMs for the different application editions may cause each application edition to retrieve information for the same specific Mexican restaurant. For example, a first AAM may cause a first application edition (e.g., for a first OS) to retrieve information for the specific Mexican restaurant. A second AAM may cause a second application edition (e.g., for a second OS) to retrieve information for the specific Mexican restaurant. During some searches, the search system 100 may identify one or more function records that include multiple AAMs.

In some implementations, a function record may include a WAM. The WAM may be a resource identifier that can be processed by a wide variety of performing devices 114 running different operating systems. In some examples, the WAM may include a uniform resource locator (URL) (i.e., a web address) used with HTTP.

A WAM (e.g., a URL) included in a function record may be used by a web browser to access a web resource that includes similar information and/or performs similar functions as would be performed by a native application that receives an AAM of the function record. In one specific example, a WAM of a function record may direct a web browser of a performing device 114 to a web version of a native application referenced in one or more AAMs of the function record. For example, if one or more AAMs included in a function record for a specific Mexican restaurant cause each corresponding native application edition to retrieve information for the specific Mexican restaurant, a WAM included in the function record may direct a web browser of the performing device 114 to a web page entry for the specific Mexican restaurant. During some searches, the search system 100 may identify one or more function records that include one or more AAMs and a WAM.

In some examples, a function record may include one or more application download addresses. An application download address of a function record can be used by a user device 102 (e.g., a searching device 112 and/or a performing device 114) to download a native application referenced in one or more AAMs of the function record in the event that the native application is not installed on the user device 102. In some examples, the application download address may include a web address (e.g., a URL) at which the native application can be previewed and downloaded. For example, the application download address may direct a web browser of the user device 102 to a digital distribution platform that is configured to distribute native applications. Example digital distribution platforms include, but are not limited to, GOOGLE PLAY® developed by Google Inc., the APP STORE® developed by Apple Inc., and the WINDOWS PHONE STORE® developed by Microsoft Corporation. If the user device 102 includes a native download application for accessing a digital distribution platform, the application download address may direct the installed native download application to a site where the native application referenced in the AAM(s) of the function record can be downloaded.

The function ID 402 may be used to identify the function record 400 among the other function records included in the data store 108. The function ID 402 may be a string of alphabetic, numeric, and/or symbolic characters (e.g., punctuation marks) that uniquely identify the function record 400 in which the function ID 402 is included. In some examples, the function ID 402 may describe a function and/or an application state in human-readable form. For example, the function ID 402 may include a name of a native application referenced in an AAM included in the access mechanism(s) 406. Additionally, or alternatively, the function ID 402 may be a human-readable string that describes a function performed according to the access mechanism(s) 406 and/or an application state resulting from performance of the function according to the access mechanism(s) 406. In some examples, the function ID 402 may include a string in the format of a URL of a WAM for the function record 400, which may uniquely identify the function record 400.

In a more specific example, if the function record 400 describes a function of a native application YELP® by Yelp Inc. (hereinafter, “Yelp”), the function ID 402 may include the name “Yelp” along with a description of an application state corresponding to the function, e.g., as described in the ASI 404. In an example where the function record 400 describes an entry within Yelp for the restaurant THE FRENCH LAUNDRY®, the function ID 402 may be “Yelp—The French Laundry.” In an example where the function ID 402 includes a string in the format of a URL, the function ID 402 may include the string “www.yelp.com/biz/the-french-laundry-yountville-2?ob=1” to uniquely identify the function record 400.

The ASI 404 may include data that describes an application state into which a native application is set according to an AAM included in the function record 400 (e.g., in the access mechanism(s) 406). Additionally, or alternatively, the ASI 404 may include data that describes a function performed according to the access mechanism(s) 406. The ASI 404 may include a variety of different types of data. For example, the ASI 404 may include structured, semi-structured, and/or unstructured data. The ASI 404 may be extracted or inferred from documents retrieved from the data source(s) 104 described above. In some examples, the ASI 404 may include data that is manually generated. The ASI 404 may also be updated so that up-to-date search results 308 can be provided in response to a user's search query 300.

In some examples, the ASI 404 may include data that may be presented to a user when a native application referenced by an AAM included in the function record 400 (e.g., included in the access mechanism(s) 406) is in an application state defined by the AAM. For example, the ASI 404 may include data that describes the application state of the native application after a performing device 114 has performed one or more operations indicated by the AAM to set the native application into the application state. In one example, if the function record 400 is associated with a shopping application, the ASI 404 may include data that describes products (e.g., names and prices) that are shown when the shopping application is set into an application state defined by the access mechanism(s) 406 of the function record 400. In another example, if the function record 400 is associated with a music player application, the ASI 404 may include data that describes a song (e.g., a song name and an artist name) that is played when the music player application is set into an application state defined by the access mechanism(s) 406 of the function record 400.

The types of data included in the ASI 404 may depend on the type of information associated with the application state and the functionality defined by the access mechanism(s) 406. In one example, if the function record 400 is for a native application that provides reviews of restaurants, the ASI 404 may include information (e.g., text and numbers) related to a restaurant, such as a category of the restaurant, reviews of the restaurant, and a menu for the restaurant. In this example, the access mechanism(s) 406 may cause the native application to launch and retrieve information for the restaurant. As another example, if the function record 400 is for a native application that plays music, the ASI 404 may include information related to a song, such as a name of the song, an artist name, lyrics, and listener reviews for the song. In this example, the access mechanism(s) 406 may cause the native application to launch and play the song described in the ASI 404.

An AAM (e.g., included in the access mechanism(s) 406) may include an ARI and/or one or more operations for a performing device 114 to perform. For example, the ARI may be a string having an application specific scheme. The ARI may include a reference to a native application and indicate one or more operations for a performing device 114 (e.g., the native application) to perform. For example, the ARI may include the reference to the native application, a domain name, and a path to be used by the native application to retrieve and display information to a user.

An example ARI for the native application OPENTABLE® by OpenTable Inc. (hereinafter, “OpenTable”) on the ANDROID® OS is “vnd.opentable.deeplink://opentable.com/restaurant/profile?rid=88333&refid=1.” A portion of the example ARI references OpenTable. For example, the substring “vnd.opentable.deeplink” of the ARI references OpenTable. The example ARI also indicates one or more operations for OpenTable to perform. For example, OpenTable may retrieve and display the information included in the ARI domain and path defined by the substring “opentable.com/restaurant/profile?rid=88333&refid=1.” In response to receiving the ARI, a performing device may launch OpenTable and display information retrieved from the location indicated by the ARI. The ARI may be provided by the developer of OpenTable in some examples.

In some examples, the AAM may include operations for the performing device to perform in addition to the one or more operations indicated by the ARI. For example, an OS of the performing device 114 and/or a native application installed on the performing device 114 may perform these additional operations included in the AAM in order to set a native application into an application state specified by the AAM. In some examples, the operations may be included in a script. Examples of the operations may include, but are not limited to, launching a native application, waiting for the native application to start, creating and sending a search request to a server, setting a current geo-location in a native application, making a restaurant reservation, sending a text message, and adding an appointment to a calendar. In some examples, an AAM may not include an ARI. Instead, the AAM can include other operations that reference a native application. The operations may be performed by a performing device 114. In some examples, the operations may be included in a script.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the search query 300 received by the search module 110 is used to perform a search of the data store 108. The query analysis module 302 receives the search query 300. The query analysis module 302 may perform various analysis operations on the received search query 300. For example, the analysis operations performed by the query analysis module 302 may include, but are not limited to, tokenization of the search query 300, filtering of the search query 300, stemming, synonymization, and stop word removal.

The set generation module 304 identifies a set of function records (i.e., the consideration set) based on the search query 300. In some examples, the set generation module 304 may identify the set of function records based on one or more matches between one or more terms of the search query 300 and one or more terms included in the function records. For example, the set generation module 304 may identify the set of function records in the data store 108 based on one or more matches between one or more tokens generated by the query analysis module 302 and one or more words included in the function records of the set, such as words included in the ASI and/or function IDs of the function records. In some examples, the consideration set may include one or more function IDs of the identified function records used to identify the function records, rather than the function records themselves. As a result, the consideration set may include less data and/or require fewer processing and/or storage resources compared to techniques where the consideration set includes one or more function records.

The set processing module 306 processes the consideration set to generate a set of search results 308 that includes one or more result objects. Each result object may include any of the data described above as being included in a result object. In some examples, the set processing module 306 scores the functions records included in the consideration set. The scores associated with the function records of the consideration set may be referred to as “result scores.” Accordingly, in some examples, each of the function records included in the consideration set may have a corresponding result score. The set processing module 306 may then select one or more function records from the consideration set based on the result scores associated with the function records. For example, the set processing module 306 may select one or more highest-scoring function records of the consideration set.

The set processing module 306 then generates one or more result objects based on the selected function records. For example, the set processing module 306 may generate a single result object based on a single function record. The set processing module 306 transmits the result objects to the searching device 112 that generated the search query 300. The set processing module 306 may also transmit the result scores associated with the result objects (i.e., with the function records used to generate the result objects) to the searching device 112.

The information conveyed by the search results 308 may depend on how the result scores are calculated by the set processing module 306. For example, the result scores may indicate the relevance of an application function or application state to the search query 300, the popularity of an application function or application state, or other properties of the application function or application state, depending on what parameters the set processing module 306 uses to score the function records of the consideration set.

The set processing module 306 may generate result scores for function records in a variety of different ways. In some implementations, the set processing module 306 generates a result score for a function record based on one or more scoring features. The scoring features may be associated with the function record and/or the search query 300. A function record scoring feature (hereinafter, a “record scoring feature”) may be based on any data associated with a function record. For example, record scoring features may be based on any data included in ASI of a function record. A query scoring feature may include any data associated with the search query 300. For example, query scoring features may include, but are not limited to, a number of words in the search query 300, the popularity of the search query 300, and the expected frequency of the words in the search query 300. A record-query scoring feature may include any data which may be generated based on data associated with both a function record and the search query 300 that resulted in identification of the function record by the set processing module 306. For example, record-query scoring features may include, but are not limited to, parameters that indicate how well terms of the search query 300 match terms of ASI of an identified function record. In some examples, determining such record-query scoring features, i.e., parameters that indicate how well terms of a search query 300 match terms of ASI of an identified function record, may be performed using Lucene® information retrieval software developed by the Apache Software Foundation. The set processing module 306 may generate a result score for a function record based on at least one of the record scoring features, the query scoring features, and the record-query scoring features.

The set processing module 306 may determine a result score for a function record included in the consideration set based on one or more of the scoring features listed herein and/or additional scoring features not explicitly listed. In some examples, the set processing module 306 may include one or more machine-learned models (e.g., a supervised learning model) configured to receive one or more scoring features. The one or more machine-learned models may generate result scores for function records included in the consideration set based on at least one of the record scoring features, the query scoring features, and the record-query scoring features. For example, the set processing module 306 may pair the search query 300 with each function record included in the consideration set and calculate a vector of features for each (query, record) pair. The vector of features may include one or more record scoring features, one or more query scoring features, and one or more record-query scoring features. The set processing module 306 may then input the vector of features into a machine-learned regression model to calculate a result score for the corresponding function record. In some examples, the machine-learned regression model may include a set of decision trees (e.g., gradient boosted decision trees). In other examples, the machine-learned regression model may include a logistic probability formula. In some examples, the machine-learned task described above can be framed as a semi-supervised learning task, where a minority of the training data is labeled with human-curated scores, and the rest of the training data is used without human labels. The result scores associated with the function records of the consideration set may be used in a variety of different ways described herein.

FIGS. 5A-5D show example GUIs displayed on a searching device 500. The searching device 500 illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D is a wrist watch computing device (e.g., a smart watch) including watch straps 502. Example wrist watch computing devices include the SAMSUNG GALAXY GEAR®, the SAMSUNG GALAXY GEAR® 2, the SAMSUNG GEAR® 2 Neo, and the SAMSUNG GEAR FIT® developed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., as well as the APPLE WATCH® developed by Apple Inc.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, the searching device 500 executes a search application including a GUI 504 that displays a search field 506 for receiving search queries 300 from a user. Since the searching device 500 has a small form factor (e.g., a small screen), the searching device 500 may not include a full keyboard in some examples. Accordingly, the searching device 500 may receive search queries 300 in a different manner, such as using voice input. For example, the user may tap the search field 506 and speak into the searching device 500 in order to enter a search query 300 into the search field 506. The searching device 500 may then transmit the entered search query 300 to the search system 100. In some examples, the searching device 500 may automatically transmit the search query 300 after it has been received by the searching device 500. In other examples, the user may press a search button 508 also displayed by the GUI 504 in order to transmit the search query 300 to the search system 100.

In the example of FIG. 5A, the user has entered the search query “Steak” 300 into the search field 506 displayed by the GUI 504 of the searching device 500. The searching device 500 has subsequently transmitted the search query 300 to the search system 100. The search system 100 has generated search results 308 in response to the search query “Steak” 300. As illustrated in FIGS. 5B-5D, respectively, the search results 308 are associated with a mapping native application, a phone native application, and the OpenTable native application. Each of the search results 308 (e.g., each of the result objects included in the search results 308) may be transmitted to the searching device 500 at the same time. Accordingly, although only a single displayed result is shown at one time on the searching device 500 in each of FIGS. 5B-5D, the search results 308 that are not displayed may be stored in the memory of the searching device 500. The user may interact with the searching device 500 (e.g., swipe a screen of the searching device 500, or use a physical button on the searching device 500) in order to browse through the different displayed results. For example, the user may swipe from left to right to advance through the displayed results. The user may then swipe from right to left to back up, or move in an opposite direction, through the displayed results.

FIG. 5B shows an example displayed result 510 for a mapping native application. The displayed result 510 indicates to the user that selecting the displayed result 510 will result in a performing device 114 (e.g., a vehicle navigation system) opening the mapping native application and navigating the user to the restaurant ALEXANDER'S STEAKHOUSE® by Alexander's Steakhouse Inc. (hereinafter, “Alexander's Steakhouse”) that is located 5 miles away from the user's current location. The user may tap the displayed result 510 shown in FIG. 5B in order to select the displayed result 510. For example, the user may tap the user input graphic that includes the string “Navigate (Car)” in order to select the displayed result 510. In some examples, the displayed result 510 may be selected by tapping anywhere on the display of the searching device 500. In still other examples, the displayed result 510 may be selected by using a mechanical button of the searching device 500. The user may interact with (e.g., swipe the display of) the searching device 500 to introduce another displayed result to the display and remove the displayed result 510 of FIG. 5B from the display.

FIG. 5C shows an example displayed result 512 for a phone native application. The displayed result 512 indicates to the user that selecting the displayed result 512 will result in a performing device 114 (e.g., a smartphone, or a car phone located near the user) opening the phone native application and setting it into a state for calling Alexander's Steakhouse. The user may tap the displayed result 512 shown in FIG. 5C in order to select the displayed result 512. For example, the user may tap the user input graphic that includes the string “Call (Phone)” in order to select the displayed result 512. In some examples, the displayed result 512 may be selected by tapping anywhere on the display of the searching device 500 or using a mechanical button of the searching device 500. The user may interact with (e.g., swipe the display of) the searching device 500 to introduce another displayed result to the display and remove the displayed result 512 of FIG. 5C from the display. The user may also swipe the display to bring the displayed result 510 of FIG. 5B back on the display.

FIG. 5D shows an example displayed result 514 for OpenTable, which is a restaurant reservation application. The displayed result 514 indicates to the user that selecting the displayed result 514 will result in a performing device 114 (e.g. a tablet) opening the OpenTable application (e.g., the native application edition or a web-based application edition of the OpenTable application) to an entry for reserving a table at the “Osso Steakhouse.” The user may tap the displayed result 514 shown in FIG. 5D in order to select the displayed result 514. For example, the user may tap the user input graphic that includes the string “Reserve Table (Tablet)” in order to select the displayed result 514. In some examples, the displayed result 514 may be selected by tapping anywhere on the display of the searching device 500 or using a mechanical button of the searching device 500. The user may interact with (e.g., swipe the display of) the searching device 500 to introduce another displayed result to the display and remove the displayed result 514 of FIG. 5D from the display. The user may also swipe the display one or more times to bring the displayed results 510, 512 of FIGS. 5B and 5C back on the display. As shown in FIGS. 5B-5D, in some examples, the searching device 500 may indicate to the user which computing device (e.g., a vehicle navigation system, a smartphone, or a tablet) will be used as a performing device 114 to perform a function indicated by a displayed result when the user selects the displayed result.

FIGS. 6A-7D illustrate example GUIs that may be generated on a searching device 600, 700 and different first and second performing devices 612, 614, 712, 714 according to the present disclosure. In the examples of FIGS. 6A-6B, the searching device 600 is a wrist watch computing device (e.g., a smart watch) including watch straps 602. FIG. 6A shows that a user has entered a search query “Steak” 300 into a search field 606 of a GUI 604 displayed on the searching device 600 in order to find search results 308 related to restaurants that include steak on their menu. In this example, the user may have pressed a search button 608 of the GUI 604 to transmit the search query 300 to the search system 100. A single displayed result 610 generated using the search results 308 received from the search system 100 in response to the search query 300 is illustrated in FIG. 6B. The displayed result 610 references Alexander's Steakhouse. The displayed result 610 of FIG. 6B illustrates that displayed results may include multiple different user inputs (e.g., “Navigate (Car)” and “Navigate (Phone)” buttons or GUI elements) for selecting a similar outcome at one or more performing devices 114 from the searching device 600. For example, the user selecting the “Navigate (Car)” button may cause the first performing device 612 installed in the user's car (i.e., a vehicle navigation system) to open a navigation native application and set the native application into a state that generates a route to Alexander's Steakhouse. The user selecting the “Navigate (Phone)” button may cause the second performing device 614 (i.e., the user's smartphone) to launch a phone native application and set the native application into a state that also generates a route to Alexander's Steakhouse.

The displayed result 610 of FIG. 6B also illustrates how displayed results may generate an indication of which performing device 114 will be performing a particular function associated with a given displayed result (e.g., a function associated with a specific button of the displayed result). For example, the displayed result 610 of FIG. 6B indicates that the first performing device 612 (i.e., the vehicle navigation system) will perform the above-described navigation function. The displayed result 610 also indicates that the second performing device 614 (i.e., the smartphone), different from the first performing device 612, will perform the same navigation function.

As described herein, in some examples, the searching device 600 may automatically pick a performing device 114 for performing a function associated with a displayed result on the searching device 600 (e.g., upon the user selecting the displayed result). In other examples (e.g., FIGS. 5B-5D), the searching device 600 may also indicate to the user which computing device will be used as the performing device 114 to perform the function. In still other examples (e.g., FIG. 6B), the searching device 600 may prompt the user to select which computing device will be used as the performing device 114 to perform the function.

In other examples, selection of the performing device 114 by the searching device 600 may be done in a different manner. In some examples, as described below with reference to FIGS. 8A-8C, a displayed result on the searching device 600 may not include an indication of a performing device 114 that will perform a function associated with the displayed result upon a user of the searching device 600 selecting the displayed result. In these examples, a GUI on the searching device 600 may display to the user a selection of multiple performing devices 114 each of which may perform the function after the user has selected the displayed result. For example, the user may first select the displayed result, which may not indicate the performing device 114 that will perform the function. Then, the searching device 600 may update its display to a GUI that allows the user to select the performing device 114 from among multiple different performing devices 114. For example, the searching device 600 may update its display to show a list of multiple different performing devices 114 (e.g., a car-based device, a phone device, a laptop device, and/or a desktop device) each of which the user may select by tapping. After the user has selected the performing device 114 that will perform the function from the multiple different performing devices 114, the searching device 600 may indicate to the user-selected performing device 114 that the displayed result was selected as described herein.

In some examples, a name of a native application (e.g., “OpenTable”) that will be launched when the user selects the displayed result may be displayed in the displayed result. In other examples, the displayed result may not include names of one or more specific native applications, but may instead refer to functionality (e.g., “call,” “navigate,” etc.) of the displayed result in a more general manner.

FIG. 6C shows an example performing device 612 that has received an indication from the searching device 600 that the user has selected the “Navigate (Car)” button of the displayed result 610 shown in FIG. 6B. The performing device 612 illustrated in FIG. 6C is a vehicle navigation system. As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the vehicle navigation system (i.e., the performing device 612) has launched a navigation native application in response to receiving the indication from the searching device 600. As depicted in FIG. 6C, the navigation native application is providing directions to Alexander's Steakhouse.

FIG. 6D shows another example of the second performing device 614 that has received an indication from the searching device 600 that the user has selected the “Navigate (Phone)” button of the displayed result 610 shown in FIG. 6B. The second performing device 614 illustrated in FIG. 6D is a smartphone. As illustrated in FIG. 6D, the smartphone (i.e., the second performing device 614) has also launched a navigation native application in response to receiving the indication from the searching device 600 and is providing directions to Alexander's Steakhouse.

In the examples of FIGS. 7A-7D, the searching device 700 is a wrist watch computing device (e.g., a smart watch) including watch straps 702. FIG. 7A shows that a user has entered a search query 300 “Papa Johns” into a search field 706 of a GUI 704 displayed on the searching device 700 in order to find search results 308 related to Papa John's® restaurants by Papa John's International. Inc. In this example, the user may have pressed a search button 708 of the GUI 704 to transmit the search query 300 to the search system 100. A single displayed result 710 generated using the search results 308 received from the search system 100 in response to the search query 300 is illustrated in FIG. 7B. The displayed result 710 of FIG. 7B illustrates that displayed results may include multiple different user inputs (e.g., “Navigate” and “Call” buttons) for selecting multiple different outcomes at one or more performing devices 114 from the searching device 700. For example, the user selecting the “Navigate (Car)” button may cause the first performing device 712 installed in the user's car (e.g., a vehicle navigation system) to open a navigation native application and generate a route to the nearest “Papa John's®” restaurant. The user selecting the “Call (Phone)” button may cause the second performing device 714 (e.g., the user's smart phone) to launch a phone native application and set the application into a state that includes and/or dials the number for the nearest “Papa John's®” restaurant. The user selecting the “Call (Car)” button may cause a different performing device 114 not shown in FIGS. 7A-7D (e.g., the user's car phone or a cellular radio of a vehicle navigation system) to launch a phone native application and set the application into a state that includes and/or dials the number for the nearest “Papa John's®” restaurant.

The displayed result 710 in FIG. 7B also illustrates how displayed results may generate an indication of which performing device 114 will be performing a particular function associated with a given displayed result (e.g., a function associated with a specific button of the displayed result). For example, the displayed result 710 of FIG. 7B indicates that the first performing device 712 (e.g., a computing device installed in the user's car) will perform the above-described navigation function. The displayed result 710 also indicates that the second performing device 714 (e.g., a smart phone), different from the first performing device 712, will perform the “Call” function also described above. The displayed result 710 further indicates that another performing device 114 (e.g., a car phone, or a cellular radio of a vehicle navigation system), different from the first and second performing devices 712, 714 may perform a similar “Call” function also described above.

FIG. 7C shows an example of the first performing device 712 that has received an indication from the searching device 700 that the user has selected the “Navigate (Car)” button of the displayed result 710 shown in FIG. 7B. The first performing device 712 illustrated in FIG. 7C is a vehicle navigation system. As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the vehicle navigation system (i.e., the first performing device 712) has launched a navigation native application in response to receiving the indication from the searching device 700. As depicted in FIG. 7C, the navigation native application is providing directions to a nearby “Papa John's®” restaurant.

FIG. 7D shows an example of the second performing device 714 that has received an indication from the searching device 700 that the user has selected the “Call (Phone)” button of the displayed result 710 shown in FIG. 7B. The second performing device 714 illustrated in FIG. 7D is a smartphone. As illustrated in FIG. 7D, the smartphone (i.e., the second performing device 714) has launched a phone native application in response to receiving the indication from the searching device 700. As depicted in FIG. 7D, the phone native application is in a state that includes and/or dials the number for the nearest “Papa John's®” restaurant.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate other example GUIs that may be generated on a searching device 800 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 8A shows the example searching device 800 (i.e., a smart watch including watch straps 802) that receives a search query 300 (“Flights”) from a user of the searching device 800 (e.g., via a search field 806 of a GUI 804 of the searching device 800). The searching device 800 transmits the search query 300 to the search system 100 (e.g., upon the user selecting a search button 808 of the GUI 804) and receives search results 308 that are responsive to the search query 300 from the search system 100. FIG. 8B shows an example displayed result 810 on the searching device 800 that was received from the search system 100 in response to the search query 300. The user selects the displayed result 810 (i.e., an entry in Hipmunk for finding flights) shown on the searching device 800 in FIG. 8B.

As described herein, in some examples, the searching device 800 may prompt the user to select a performing device 114. For example, after the user selects the displayed result 810 shown in FIG. 8B, the searching device 800 may display a GUI 812 that includes indications of one or more different possible performing devices 114, as illustrated in FIG. 8C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8C, the searching device 800 displays indications for three possible performing devices 114 within the GUI 812 for the user to choose. The three possible performing devices 114 indicated by the GUI 812 include a “Phone” (e.g., a smartphone), a “Tablet,” and a “Laptop.” The user may then select from the three possible performing devices 114 by interacting with the GUI 812 (e.g., by selecting a button or GUI element corresponding to each performing device 114). In response to the user's selection of a particular one of the three possible performing devices 114 (e.g., the “Phone”), the searching device 800 may transmit an indication of the user's selection of the displayed result 810 on the searching device 800 (as shown in FIG. 8B) to the selected performing device 114.

As shown in FIG. 8C, the GUI 812 includes a Bluetooth® logo 814 within the button or GUI element corresponding to the “Phone” performing device 114. The Bluetooth® logo 814 may indicate that the searching device 800 is currently connected via Bluetooth® to a smartphone that can be used as a performing device 114 to perform a function associated with the selected result (i.e., the displayed result 810). Accordingly, in some examples, the searching device 800 can include graphical indicators that indicate whether any of the possible performing devices 114 are currently connected to the searching device 800.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example GUI of a search application running on a searching device 900. In FIG. 9, a user has entered a search query 300 (“Late night diners by me”) into the GUI of the search application (i.e., into a search field 902 of the GUI). The user has interacted with the GUI in order to transmit a query wrapper including the search query 300 to the search system 100. For example, the user may have caused the searching device 900 to transmit the query wrapper to the search system 100 by selecting (e.g., touching, or clicking) a search button 904 of the GUI. The search system 100 has identified function records and has generated result objects including AAMs, WAMs, and application download addresses selected from the identified function records, as described above. In the example of FIG. 9, the search system 100 has identified function records including references to the native applications Yelp, TRIPADVISOR® by TripAdvisor, LLC (hereinafter, “TripAdvisor”), OpenTable, and URBANSPOON® by Wanderspot LLC (hereinafter, “Urbanspoon”).

The GUI of FIG. 9 illustrates different types of displayed results 908-1, 908-2, 910, 912, and 914 for the function records identified for Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable, and Urbanspoon. The search system 100 has identified function records that correspond to entries in Yelp for “IHOP” and “Denny's,” the displayed results for which are included in the GUI. Specifically, the displayed results 908-1 and 908-2 of the GUI include AAMs that launch Yelp and retrieve the entries in Yelp for “IHOP” and “Denny's,” respectively, on a performing device 114 (not illustrated). As shown in the GUI of FIG. 9, the displayed results 908-1 and 908-2 are grouped together under a Yelp header 906 also included in the GUI. In other examples, displayed results for different native applications may be mixed instead of grouped.

The displayed results 910 and 914 may be associated with AAMs for TripAdvisor and Urbanspoon, respectively. For example, an AAM included in the displayed result 910 may cause a performing device 114 to launch TripAdvisor into a default state. Similarly, an AAM included in the displayed result 914 may cause a performing device 114 to launch Urbanspoon into a default state.

The displayed result 912 may include a WAM for a web-based application version of OpenTable. For example, the WAM may direct a web browser of a performing device 114 to one or more late night diners on the OpenTable web-based application. Accordingly, in response to selection of the displayed result 912, the performing device 114 may launch the web browser and retrieve information at a web address included in the WAM.

FIGS. 10A-11B are functional block diagrams that illustrate different arrangements of searching devices 112, performing devices 114, and the search system 100. The different arrangements are now described herein.

FIGS. 10A-10B show examples in which a single searching device 1000, 1006 and multiple different performing devices 1002, 1004, 1008, 1010 each have independent network access (i.e., via the network 106) to the search system 100. Put another way, the searching device 1000, 1006 is not tethered to any of the performing devices 1002, 1004, 1008, 1010 in FIGS. 10A-10B. For example, with reference to FIG. 10A, the searching device 1000 may communicate with the search system 100 using a Wi-Fi® connection, a cellular network connection, or other communication technology. Each of the performing devices 1002, 1004 may also communicate with the search system 100 using a Wi-Fi® connection, a cellular network connection, or other communication technology. In some examples, the searching device 1000 and one or more of the performing devices 1002, 1004 may communicate with the search system 100 using different communication technologies. In other examples, the searching device 1000 and one or more of the performing devices 1002, 1004 may communicate with the search system 100 using the same communication technology. In some examples, the searching device 1000 and one or more of the performing devices 1002, 1004 may be connected to the search system 100 through the same computing network (e.g., a home network, or a business network).

In some examples, the searching device 1000 may transmit an indication to one or more of the performing devices 1002, 1004 via the network 106, as shown in in the example of FIG. 10A. In other examples, the searching device 1000 and one or more of the performing devices 1002, 1004 may communicate directly with one another, such as through a Bluetooth® connection, or other direct connection. In these examples, the searching device 1000 may transmit an indication (e.g., an indication that a user has selected a displayed result) to one or more of the performing devices 1002, 1004 via the direct connection.

FIG. 10B illustrates an example searching device 1006 and example performing devices 1008, 1010. The searching device 1006 is a wrist watch computing device (e.g., a smart watch). The performing devices 1008, 1010 are a smart phone computing device and a vehicle navigation system, respectively. The searching device 1006 and one or more of the performing devices 1008, 1010 may independently communicate with the search system 100. In some examples, the searching device 1006 may directly communicate with one or more of the performing devices 1008, 1010 (e.g., via a Bluetooth® connection).

FIGS. 11A-11B show example arrangements of computing devices in which a searching device 1100 or a first performing device 1108 is tethered to another computing device (e.g., a first performing device 1102 or a searching device 1106) in order to communicate with the search system 100 (i.e., via the network 106). In FIG. 11A, the searching device 1100 is tethered to the first performing device 1102. In this example, the searching device 1100 may transmit search queries 300 to the search system 100 and receive search results 308 from the search system 100 via the first performing device 1102. The searching device 1100 may be tethered to the first performing device 1102 because the searching device 1100 may not have sufficient communication technology for communicating via the Internet with the search system 100. For example, the searching device 1100 may have a communication technology (e.g., Bluetooth®) that cannot connect to the Internet at the searching device's 1100 current location. In FIG. 11A, the searching device 1100 may communicate directly with the first performing device 1102 via the tether. For example, if the searching device 1100 is connected to the first performing device 1102 via a Bluetooth® connection, the searching device 1100 may transmit an indication of a user selection of a displayed result to the first performing device 1102 using the Bluetooth® connection. In the example of FIG. 11A, the first and second performing devices 1102, 1104 may each have independent network access (i.e., via the network 106) to the search system 100. In other examples, the searching device 1100 may be tethered to the second performing device 1104 in a similar manner as described above with reference to the first performing device 1102.

In FIG. 11B, the first performing device 1108 is tethered to the searching device 1106. In this example, the searching device 1106 may transmit search queries 300 to the search system 100 and receive search results 308 from the search system 100. In some examples, the first performing device 1108 may receive the search results 308 from the search system 100 via the searching device 1106. The first performing device 1108 may be tethered to the searching device 1106 because the first performing device 1108 may not have sufficient communication technology for communicating via the Internet with the search system 100. For example, the first performing device 1108 may have a communication technology (e.g., Bluetooth®) that cannot connect to the Internet at the searching device's 1100 current location. In FIG. 11B, the searching device 1106 may also communicate directly with the first performing device 1108 via the tether. For example, if the searching device 1106 is connected to the first performing device 1108 via a Bluetooth® connection, the searching device 1106 may transmit an indication of a user selection of a displayed result to the first performing device 1108 using the Bluetooth® connection. In the example of FIG. 11B, the searching device 1106 and the second performing device 1110 may each have independent network access (i.e., via the network 106) to the search system 100. In other examples, the second performing device 1110 may be tethered to the searching device 1106 in a similar manner as described above with reference to the first performing device 1108.

FIGS. 12A-12B are functional block diagrams that illustrate other example arrangements of computing devices in which a searching device 1200, 1208 is tethered to another computing device 1206, 1214, referred to herein as an “intermediate computing device,” or an “intermediate device” 1206, 1214, in order to communicate with the search system 100. Accordingly, the searching device 1200, 1208 may communicate with the search system 100 via the intermediate device 1206, 1214. As described herein, the searching device 1200, 1208 indicates selected results to one or more of a first performing device 1202, 1210 and a second performing device 1204, 1212, each of which is a different computing device than the intermediate device 1206, 1214. The searching device 1200, 1208 may indicate a selected result to one or more of the first and second performing devices 1202, 1204, 1210, 1212 via a direct connection in some examples (e.g., the direct connection between the searching device 1208 and the first performing device 1210 shown in FIG. 12B). In other examples, the searching device 1200, 1208 may communicate with one or more of the first and second performing devices 1202, 1204, 1210, 1212 via the Internet.

As such, FIGS. 12A-12B also illustrate how the searching device 1200, 1208 may transmit indications of selected results to more than one performing device 1202, 1204, 1210, 1212. For example, the searching device 1200, 1208 may transmit a single indication of a selected result to a particular one of the performing devices 1202, 1204, 1210, 1212, e.g., based on user input or other considerations. With respect to FIG. 12A, the searching device 1200 may indicate a selected result to the first performing device 1202 and/or the second performing device 1204. The performing device(s) (i.e., the one or more of the performing devices 1202, 1204) that receive the indication may then perform one or more functions indicated by, or associated with, the indication. The connections between the searching device 1200 and the first and second performing devices 1202, 1204 may be direct connections and/or connections through a network (e.g., the network 106), such as the Internet. In the example of FIG. 12A, the intermediate device 1206 and the first and second performing devices 1202, 1204 may each have independent network access (i.e., via the network 106) to the search system 100. With respect to FIG. 12B, the searching device 1208 is tethered to the intermediate device 1214 in order to communicate with the search system 100 (i.e., via the network 106). The searching device 1208 may indicate a selected result to the first performing device 1210 and/or the second performing device 1212. The performing device(s) (i.e., the one or more of the performing devices 1210, 1212) that receive the indication may then perform one or more functions indicated by the indication. The connections between the searching device 1208 and the first and second performing devices 1210, 1212 may be direct connections (e.g., the direct connection between the searching device 1208 and the first performing device 1210) and/or connections through a network, e.g., the network 106 (via the intermediate device 1214), such as the Internet. In the example of FIG. 12B, the intermediate device 1214 and the second performing device 1212 may each have independent network access (i.e., via the network 106) to the search system 100. In other examples, the searching device 1208 may be tethered to one of the first and second performing devices 1210, 1212, which may in turn be tethered to the intermediate device 1214. In these examples, the intermediate device 1214 may communicate with the search system 100 in the manner described above. Additional arrangements of searching devices, performing devices, and intermediate devices are also contemplated herein view of the above-described examples.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example method 1300 for generating search results 308 based on a received search query 300. The method 1300 is described with respect to the search module 110 of FIG. 3. In block 1302, the query analysis module 302 receives a search query 300 from (e.g., generated by) a searching device 112. For example, the searching device 112 may have received the search query 300 from a user of the searching device 112 (e.g., via a GUI of a search application executing on the searching device 112) and transmitted the search query 300 to the query analysis module 302 (i.e., to the search system 100). In block 1304, the query analysis module 302 performs an analysis of the search query 300. For example, the query analysis module 302 may perform any of tokenization, filtering, stemming, synonymization, and stop word removal with respect to the search query 300. In block 1306, the set generation module 304 identifies a consideration set of one or more function records included in the data store 108 using the search query 300 (e.g., based on an output from the query analysis module 302). For example, the set generation module 304 may identify the function records of the consideration set based on one or more matches between one or more terms of the search query 300 and one or more terms included in ASI and/or a function ID of each function record.

In blocks 1308-1310, the set processing module 306 processes the consideration set of function records. For example, in block 1308, the set processing module 306 generates result scores for the function records included in the consideration set. In block 1310, the set processing module 306 selects one or more function records from the consideration set based on the result scores associated with the function records. For example, the set processing module 306 may select one or more function records having the highest (e.g., largest) result scores. In block 1312, the set processing module 306 generates result objects based on the selected function records. In block 1314, the set processing module 306 transmits the result objects to the searching device 112 (i.e., as the search results 308).

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example method 1400 describing operation of a searching device 112 according to the present disclosure. In block 1402, the searching device 112 receives a search query 300 from a user of the searching device 112. For example, the searching device 112 may have received the search query 300 from the user via a GUI of a search application executing on the searching device 112. In block 1404, the searching device 112 transmits the received search query 300 to the search system 100. In block 1406, the searching device 112 waits to receive search results 308 from the search system 100 in response to transmitting the search query 300. In block 1408, upon receiving the search results 308 from the search system 100, the searching device 112 displays (e.g., via the search application) the received search results 308 (e.g., generates displayed results based on the received search results 308) to the user. In block 1410, the searching device 112 waits for the user to select one of the displayed results. In block 1412, upon detecting (e.g., via the search application) a selection of a displayed result by the user, the searching device 112 selects one of a plurality of performing devices 114. For example, the searching device 112 may select the one of the plurality of performing devices 114 based on one or more of location data, availability data, compatibility data, connectivity data, and historical connectivity data associated with the selected performing device 114, as described herein. In block 1414, the searching device 112 transmits an indication of the selected result to the selected one of the plurality of performing devices 114. As described herein, in some examples, the indication may include or reference one or more AAMs, WAMs, and/or application download addresses. As also described herein, in other examples, the indication may include one or more instructions or commands for the performing device 114.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram that illustrates another example method 1500 describing operation of a searching device 112 according to the present disclosure. Blocks 1502-1510 of the example method 1500 correspond to blocks 1402-1410 of the example method 1400 described above with reference to FIG. 14. In block 1512, the searching device 112 waits for the user to select one of a plurality of performing devices 114. In block 1514, upon detecting (e.g., via a search application executing on the searching device 112) a selection of a performing device 114 by the user, the searching device 112 transmits an indication of the selected result to the selected one of the plurality of performing devices 114. As described herein, in some examples, the indication may include or reference one or more AAMs, WAMs, and/or application download addresses. As also described herein, in other examples, the indication may include one or more instructions or commands for the performing device 114.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example method 1600 describing operation of a performing device 114 according to the present disclosure. In block 1602, the performing device 114 receives an indication of a selected result from a searching device 112. In other words, the performing device 114 receives an indication of a search result 308 that has been displayed on the searching device 112 and selected by a user of the searching device 112. In this example, the user and/or the searching device 112 may have selected the performing device 114 from among multiple different performing devices 114 in the manner previously described. The indication may include a variety of different types of data. For example, the indication may include one or more access mechanisms. In some examples, the indication may include on or more AAMs. Additionally, or alternatively, the indication may include a WAM. In some examples, the indication may include an application download address, e.g., along with the AAM(s) in cases where a native application referenced by the AAM(s) is not available on the performing device 114. In other examples, the indication may reference, rather than include, one or more of the AAM(s), WAM, and application download address described above. In still other examples, the indication may include one or more instructions or commands for the performing device 114, as described herein.

In block 1604, the performing device 114 selects an access mechanism using the indication received from the searching device 112. For example, the performing device 114 may select an AAM (e.g., from the indication itself, or using the indication as a reference) if the performing device 114 has a native application that is referenced by the AAM installed on the performing device 114. In another example, the performing device 114 may select a WAM (e.g., from the indication itself, or using the indication as a reference) if the performing device 114 does not have a native application that will handle an AAM included in, or referenced by, the indication installed on the performing device 114. In still other examples, if the indication includes, or references, an application download address, the performing device 114 may be directed to a download site or other location (e.g., a digital distribution platform) where the performing device 114 can download a native application. In these examples, the native application may be referenced by an AAM also included in, or referenced by, the indication.

In block 1606, the performing device 114 performs a function according to the selected access mechanism. For example, if the selected access mechanism is an AAM, the performing device 114 may launch a native application referenced by the AAM and set the native application into a state specified by the AAM. If the selected access mechanism is a WAM, the performing device 114 may launch a web browser application and perform a function specified by the WAM (e.g., access a web resource using a URL included in the WAM).

As described herein, in some examples, upon receiving an indication of a selected result, instead of launching a native application and setting the application into a particular state, or launching a web browser and accessing a web resource, the performing device 114 can show an expanded view of the selected result (e.g., a view that includes more image/text content, or detail and/or GUI input/output options). This may be beneficial in scenarios where the user would like to view the selected result on a larger screen, assuming that the searching device 112 (e.g., a smart watch) has a relatively limited display screen size and that the performing device 114 (e.g., a smart phone, or a tablet) has a relatively larger display screen size. The user may then interact with the expanded view in order to cause the performing device 114 to launch a native application and set the application into a particular state, or launch a web browser and access a web resource.

In some examples, the searching device 112 may automatically (e.g., without additional user input) indicate to the performing device 114 that an expanded view of a selected result should be shown on the performing device 114. In other examples, the searching device 112 may prompt the user to select whether an expanded view of a selected result should be shown on the performing device 114, or whether a native application referenced by the selected result should be launched by the performing device 114 using the selected result. For example, after the user selects a displayed result on the searching device 112, the searching device 112 may display a button or another GUI input element that includes the string “Show expanded view” or “Launch app.” In this manner, the button or GUI input element may enable the user to select whether the performing device 114 should display an expanded view of the selected result, or launch a native application referenced by the selected result. If the user selects the button or GUI input element that includes the string “Show expanded view,” the searching device 112 may transmit an indication to the performing device 114 to show an expanded view of the selected result. If the user selects the button or GUI input element that includes the string “Launch app,” the searching device 112 may transmit an indication to the performing device 114 to launch the native application according to the selected result. In this example, the performing device 114 may launch the native application and set the native application into an application state specified by the selected result, as described herein.

In some examples, the searching device 112 may store search results 308 for later use (e.g., based on user input or other considerations). For example, at a later time following performing a search using the searching device 112, the user may recall a stored search result 308 and select the stored search result 308 to cause a performing device 114 to perform a function indicated by the stored search result 308. In one example in which the searching device 112 is a wrist watch computing device (e.g., a smart watch), the searching device 112 may store search results 308 so that the user can easily retrieve the stored search results 308 at a later time for selection, as described above. Storing search results 308 on the searching device 112 in this manner may save the user time that would otherwise be spent performing a new search for the search results 308. In some examples, the searching device 112 may store some of the search results 308. For example, the searching device 112 may maintain a history of (i.e., store) previously selected search results 308. A stored search result 308 may include some or all of the result object data associated with a search result 308 such that, upon selection of the stored search result 308, a searching device 112 can indicate to a performing device 114 to perform a function associated with the stored search result 308 and the performing device 114 is able to perform the function. In some examples, stored search results 308 may be stored on computing devices other than the searching device 112 (e.g., a performing device 114). In other examples, the searching device 112 can transfer the stored search results 308 to one or more other computing devices (e.g., a performing device 114, or another computing device).

As described herein, in some scenarios, there may be multiple possible performing devices 114 that may be used to perform a function indicated by a selected result. In some examples, the searching device 112 may rank the possible performing devices 114 for consideration. For example, the searching device 112 may rank the possible performing devices 114 based on a variety of different considerations. Example ranking considerations may include, but are not limited to, physical proximity of the searching device 112 and a possible performing device 114, whether and/or how often a possible performing device 114 has been selected in the past, whether a possible performing device 114 has a native application capable of providing access to the chosen function (e.g., the selected result), whether the searching device 112 has just sent (e.g., within seconds) an indication to a possible performing device 114, and whether a possible performing device 114 is currently executing an application. In some examples, the searching device 112 can automatically select a performing device 114 from the possible performing devices 114 based on the ranking (e.g., select a highest-ranked performing device 114). In other examples, the searching device 112 can show a user a menu that includes a list of the possible performing devices 114 that are arranged based on the ranking. In this example, the user can select a performing device 114 from the list.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of an example searching device 112 and an example performing device 114 in communication with the search system 100 according to the techniques of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 17, the searching device 112 includes one or more processing units 216, one or more memory components 218, one or more input/output (I/O) components 220, and one or more interconnect components 222. The memory component(s) 218 store an OS 224, a search application 226, a web browser application 228, a performing device selection module 230, a user selection indication module 232, and one or more native applications 234 (e.g., native applications installed on the searching device 112). As also shown in FIG. 17, the performing device 114 includes one or more processing units 236, one or more memory components 238, one or more I/O components 240, and one or more interconnect components 242. The memory component(s) 238 store an OS 244, one or more native applications 246 (e.g., native applications installed on the performing device 114), a web browser application 248, and a user selection indication module 250.

Each of the processing unit(s) 216, 236 may be configured to execute instructions stored in the corresponding ones of the memory component(s) 218, 238 and communicate with the corresponding ones of the memory component(s) 218, 238 and the I/O component(s) 220, 240 (e.g., via the corresponding ones of the interconnect component(s) 222, 242). Each of the OS 224, 244, search application 226, web browser application 228, 248, performing device selection module 230, user selection indication module 232, 250, and native application(s) 234, 246 may be embodied in computer-executable instructions and executed by the corresponding one of the processing unit(s) 216, 236. The memory component(s) 218, 238 may be configured to store executable instructions, system parameters, and other data in addition to the contents described above. Each of the I/O component(s) 220, 240 may be configured to (e.g., at the direction of the corresponding ones of the processing unit(s) 216, 236) receive inputs to the corresponding one of the searching and performing devices 112, 114 and transmit outputs from corresponding one of the devices 112, 114. The interconnect component(s) 222, 242 (e.g., a bus) may be configured to provide communication between the corresponding ones of the processing unit(s) 216, 236, the memory component(s) 218, 238, and the I/O component(s) 220, 240, as well as among other devices.

The units, components, and modules of the searching and performing devices 112, 114 described above may enable each of the devices 112, 114, to perform the techniques attributed to the device according to this disclosure. For example, the searching device 112 (e.g., the processing unit(s) 216 executing instructions stored in the memory component(s) 218) may be configured to receive (e.g., via the I/O component(s) 220) a search query 300 from a user, transmit (e.g., via the I/O component(s) 220) the search query 300 to the search system 100, and receive (e.g., via the I/O component(s) 220) search results 308 that are responsive to the search query 300 from the search system 100. The searching device 112 may be further configured to display (e.g., via the I/O component(s) 220) the search results 308 to a user of the searching device 112. The searching device 112 may also be configured to receive (e.g., via the I/O component(s) 220) a selection of one of the search results 308 from the user, select (e.g., based on a user input or other data received via the I/O component(s) 220) the performing device 114 from among a plurality of performing devices 114, and transmit (e.g., via the I/O component(s) 220) an indication of the selection to the performing device 114.

To perform one or more of receiving the search query 300, transmitting the search query 300, receiving the search results 308, displaying the search results 308, receiving the selection of one of the search results 308, selecting the performing device 114, and transmitting the indication of the selection to the performing device 114, the processing unit(s) 216 may execute one or more instructions included in the memory component(s) 218. For example, the processing unit(s) 216 may execute instructions associated with one or more of the OS 224, the search application 226, the web browser application 228, the performing device selection module 230, the user selection indication module 232, and the native application(s) 234. In a specific example, the processing unit(s) 216 may execute instructions that cause the searching device 112 to run the OS 224. To receive the search query 300, transmit the search query 300, receive the search results 308, display the search results 308, receive the selection of one of the search results 308, select the performing device 114, and transmit the indication of the selection to the performing device 114, the processing unit(s) 216 may further execute instructions that cause the searching device 112 to run the search application 226 or the web browser application 228 within the OS 224. In some examples, to select the performing device 114, the processing unit(s) 216 may execute instructions that cause the searching device 112 to run the performing device selection module 230. The performing device selection module 230 may be a dedicated software module configured to select a performing device 114 from among a plurality of performing devices 114 based on user input or other data, as described herein. In some examples, to transmit the indication, the processing unit(s) 216 may execute instructions that cause the searching device 112 to run the user selection indication module 232. The user selection indication module 232 may be a dedicated software module configured to transmit indications of user selections of search results 308 on the searching device 112 to a selected performing device 114.

The performing device 114 (e.g., the processing unit(s) 236 executing instructions stored in the memory component(s) 238) may be configured to receive (e.g., via the I/O component(s) 240) the indication and perform a function indicated by the one of the search results 308 in response to receiving the indication. To perform one or more of receiving the indication and performing the function, the processing unit(s) 236 may execute one or more instructions included in the memory component(s) 238. For example, the processing unit(s) 236 may execute instructions associated with one or more of the OS 244, the native application(s) 246, the web browser application 248, and the user selection indication module 250. In a specific example, the processing unit(s) 236 may execute instructions that cause the performing device 114 to run the OS 244. To receive the indication, the processing unit(s) 236 may further execute instructions that cause the performing device 114 to run the user selection indication module 250 within the OS 244. The user selection indication module 250 may be a dedicated software module configured to receive indications of user selections of search results 308 on the searching device 112 at the performing device 114. To perform the function, the processing unit(s) 236 may execute instructions that cause the performing device 114 to run the native application(s) 246 or the web browser application 248 within the OS 244.

The modules and data stores included in the search system 100 represent features that may be included in the search system 100 of the present disclosure. For example, the search module 110, the query analysis module 302, the set generation module 304, the set processing module 306, and the data store 108 may represent features included in the search system 100. The modules and data stores described herein may be embodied by electronic hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. Depiction of different features as separate modules and data stores does not necessarily imply whether the modules and data stores are embodied by common or separate electronic hardware or software components. In some implementations, the features associated with the one or more modules and data stores depicted herein may be realized by common electronic hardware and software components. In some implementations, the features associated with the one or more modules and data stores depicted herein may be realized by separate electronic hardware and software components.

The modules and data stores may be embodied by electronic hardware and software components including, but not limited to, one or more processing units, one or more memory components, one or more input/output (I/O) components, and interconnect components. The interconnect components may be configured to provide communication between the one or more processing units, the one or more memory components, and the one or more I/O components. For example, the interconnect components may include one or more buses that are configured to transfer data between electronic components. The interconnect components may also include control circuits (e.g., a memory controller and/or an I/O controller) that are configured to control communication between electronic components.

The one or more processing units may include one or more central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), digital signal processing units (DSPs), or other processing units. The one or more processing units may be configured to communicate with the one or more memory components and the one or more I/O components. For example, the one or more processing units may be configured to communicate with the one or more memory components and the one or more I/O components via the interconnect components.

A memory component, or memory, of the present disclosure may include any volatile or non-volatile media. For example, the memory may include, but is not limited to, electrical media, magnetic media, and/or optical media, such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), electrically-erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Flash memory, hard disk drives (HDD), magnetic tape drives, optical storage technology (e.g., compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD®), and/or Blu-ray Disco), or any other memory components.

The one or more memory components may include (e.g., store) data described herein. For example, the one or more memory components may include the data included in the function records of the data store 108. The one or more memory components may also include instructions that may be executed by the one or more processing units. For example, the one or more memory components may include computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to perform the various functions attributed to the modules and data stores described herein.

The one or more I/O components may refer to electronic hardware and software that provides communication with a variety of different devices. For example, the one or more I/O components may provide communication between other devices and the one or more processing units and the one or more memory components. In some examples, the one or more I/O components may be configured to communicate with a computer network. For example, the one or more I/O components may be configured to exchange data over a computer network using a variety of different physical connections, wireless connections, and protocols. The one or more I/O components may include, but are not limited to, network interface components (e.g., a network interface controller), repeaters, network bridges, network switches, routers, and firewalls. In some examples, the one or more I/O components may include hardware and software that is configured to communicate with various human interface devices, including, but not limited to, display screens, keyboards, pointer devices (e.g., a mouse), touchscreens, speakers, and microphones. In some examples, the one or more I/O components may include hardware and software that is configured to communicate with additional devices, such as external memory (e.g., external HDDs).

In some implementations, the search system 100 may be a system of one or more computing devices (e.g., a computer search system) that are configured to implement the techniques described herein. Put another way, the features attributed to the modules and data stores described herein may be implemented by one or more computing devices. Each of the one or more computing devices may include any combination of electronic hardware, software, and/or firmware described above. For example, each of the one or more computing devices may include any combination of the processing units, memory components, I/O components, and interconnect components described above. The one or more computing devices of the search system 100 may also include various human interface devices, including, but not limited to, display screens, keyboards, pointing devices (e.g., a mouse), touchscreens, speakers, and microphones. The one or more computing devices may also be configured to communicate with additional devices, such as external memory (e.g., external HDDs).

The one or more computing devices of the search system 100 may be configured to communicate with the network 106. The one or more computing devices may also be configured to communicate with one another via a computer network. In some examples, the one or more computing devices may include one or more server computing devices configured to communicate with user devices (e.g., receive search queries 300 and transmit search results 308), gather data from data sources, index the data, store the data, and/or store other documents. The one or more computing devices may reside within a single machine at a single geographic location in some examples. In other examples, the one or more computing devices may reside within multiple machines at a single geographic location. In still other examples, the one or more computing devices may be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

Additionally, the various implementations of the search system 100 described above (e.g., using one or more computing devices that include one or more processing units, memory components, I/O components, and interconnect components) are equally applicable to any of the searching device 112 and the performing devices 114 described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: transmitting, using a searching device, a search query to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query; receiving search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query, wherein each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform; displaying the search results on the searching device; receiving a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device; selecting, using the searching device, one of a plurality of performing devices; and transmitting, using the searching device, an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices, wherein the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving a user selection of a performing device of the plurality of performing devices at the searching device, and selecting the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying an indication of the performing device of the plurality of performing devices on the searching device, wherein receiving the user selection of the performing device comprises receiving a user selection of the indication at the searching device.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the indication of the performing device of the plurality of performing devices on the searching device comprises displaying the indication along with the one of the search results displayed on the searching device.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving location data that indicates the location of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data comprises identifying a performing device of the plurality of performing devices that is located most proximate to the searching device using the location data, and selecting the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving availability data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is available to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the availability data.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving compatibility data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is compatible with an access mechanism that specifies the function indicated by the one of the search results, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the compatibility data.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the connectivity data.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices comprises receiving historical connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices has been previously connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and selecting the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the historical connectivity data.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the search results includes an access mechanism, and wherein to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to set an application into a state of the application using the access mechanism.
 12. A system comprising: a searching device; a plurality of performing devices; and a search system, wherein the search system is configured to receive a search query from the searching device and transmit search results that are responsive to the search query to the searching device, wherein the searching device is configured to display the search results to a user, receive a user selection of one of the search results from the user, select one of the plurality of performing devices, and transmit an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices, wherein the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform a function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive a user selection of a performing device of the plurality of performing devices at the searching device, and select the performing device as the one of the plurality of performing devices.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive location data that indicates the location of each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the location data.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive availability data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is available to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the availability data.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive compatibility data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is compatible with an access mechanism that specifies the function indicated by the one of the search results, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the compatibility data.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices is connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the connectivity data.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein to select the one of the plurality of performing devices, the searching device is configured to receive historical connectivity data that indicates whether each of one or more of the plurality of performing devices has been previously connected to the searching device via a communication interface, and select the one of the plurality of performing devices based on the historical connectivity data.
 19. The system of claim 12, wherein the one of the search results includes an access mechanism, and wherein to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results, the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to set an application into a state of the application using the access mechanism.
 20. A computer program product encoded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by a data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising: transmitting a search query to a search system configured to generate search results in response to a received search query; receiving search results from the search system at the searching device in response to the search query, wherein each search result indicates a function for a computing device to perform; displaying the search results on the searching device; receiving a user selection of one of the search results at the searching device; selecting one of a plurality of performing devices; and transmitting an indication of the user selection to the one of the plurality of performing devices, wherein the one of the plurality of performing devices is configured to perform the function indicated by the one of the search results in response to receiving the indication. 